Reaction as Manchester United lose 4-1 to Como in the Champions League, to increase the pressure on manager Michael Carrick
Carrick apologised to the 700 Man Utd fans after the final whistle, ignoring his players in the process
After the match, captain Bruno Fernandes appeared to criticise Carrick's tactics, saying 'you have to be more brave' and urging the 'manager and the staff' to 'take the risk'
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher says he thinks Fernandes is 'a disgrace' for calling out the hierarchy
Asked about his future, Carrick said he 'had to apologise to the supporters' and that he's 'really angry' about the situation
The defeat leaves Man Utd with just one win in their last nine matches - they're at home to Bournemouth in the Premier Leauge on Sunday
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Bruno said and I quote, "That's on the manager and staff to say, it's not on me to say". He didn't say that's on the manager and staff. You can read into that however you like but those were his words.
Christine Von Dinther, Nantwich
Como 4-1 Manchester United
Some scathing comments there from Samuel, Ben and Pete. And there are plenty more where they came from!
If you are just joining us, we are just picking through the wreckage of Manchester United's 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como, and the subsequent fallout:
Como 4-1 Manchester United
Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter in Como
Michael Carrick very much reminded me of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the way he went to Manchester United’s fans immediately after the 4-1 defeat at Como, and held his hands up in apology.
Solskjaer did something similar after the 4-1 loss to Watford in November 2021.
It is amazing how both situations unravelled so quickly. For Solskjaer, there were 11 games between a home EFL Cup defeat by West Ham and the Watford game, which proved to be his last in charge.
United played their 11th game of the season last night, a campaign that began with that terrible performance at Hull City.
There is no doubting the ‘United’ credentials of both men. But in an environment as unforgiving as this, you have to win matches.
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The problem is entirely of our own making and keeps coming back to the same things: poor decisions by the board and players not being good enough. Until we start making better decisions at the top things won’t get better. I’d rather risk relegation with youth and a proper plan.
Samuel, Skipton
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Bruno has put the owners in a very tough position here. If they sack Carrick, it pretty much shows players have more influence than the managers at Utd. If Carrick stays, he is going to have a massively fractured dressing room.
Ben, Sheffield
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Culmination last night of a lot of things going wrong, it feels to me the wheels are really coming off now. I feel for Carrick, at the very least you want 90 mins of commitment and effort from the players even if we're not good enough to win.
Pete, Welshpool
Como 4-1 Manchester United
Dimitar Berbatov
Former Tottenham and Manchester United striker on TNT Sports
After a performance like this, people will probably raise the same questions like every time.
Are these the players that can compete for United at the highest stage? Is that the right manager? Are we going in the right way?
Of course, after games like this, everybody will say no. We need more players, we need better players, we need this and that.
What can you say after a performance like this? When a loss comes like today, it becomes even more difficult to find the argument that everybody was giving their best because, today, I don't think everyone was giving their best.
It didn't look like that on the pitch. Como were just having fun. It was like watching men against kids.
Image source, Getty ImagesComo 4-1 Manchester United
Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter in Como
All eyes on Manchester United this morning.
Michael Carrick and his players flew back to the North West immediately after their 4-1 Champions League humiliation by Como.
I can’t imagine the atmosphere was convivial given the performance and skipper Bruno Fernandes’ post-match comments about Carrick’s tactics.
Carrick is scheduled to hold a news conference tomorrow to look ahead to Sunday’s Premier League game against Bournemouth.
The key question is whether he will still be in a job after one of the worst performances in United’s entire European history extended the run of games without a win to seven, the worst since they went eight without a win in 2015-16 under Louis van Gaal.
Darren Fletcher stood in as interim boss for two games following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal in January, assisted by Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion, who are both part of Carrick’s current backroom set up.
Carrick could continue, of course, but after controversial post-match outbursts from Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes in the past week, it doesn’t feel he is presiding over a happy group of players.
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Whilst on their own Martinez or Fernandes' comments could be excused (though not great in either case) when looked at together, a week apart, they speak to a culture at Man Utd where accountability is dodged and blame shifted. Seems like a rotten institution to me.
Sam, Cambridge
Como 4-1 Manchester United
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, speaking as a pundit on broadcaster CBS Sports, described the post-match comments of Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes as "a disgrace":
"We said Lisandro Martinez was bang out of order last week for calling out the hierarchy above him and for Bruno Fernandes to do that is a disgrace really.
"Last season he got 'player of the year'. That was on the back of Michael Carrick becoming manager.
"He wouldn't have got that reward without Michael Carrick because Carrick put him back in his rightful position and he then went on to have a fantastic season because he's a talented footballer.
"In terms of attitude and the way he goes about things, it's not right at all. He's reacted like that because he's been been brought off. He's embarrassed by the manager and he's brought him off."
Image source, Getty ImagesComo 4-1 Manchester United
'How bad was it?' is a question that was being pondered by fans and football pundits alike on Wednesday night as Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick and captain Bruno Fernandes were launching into their own post-match debrief in a very public manner...
Como 4-1 Manchester United
Image source, Getty ImagesWell, it certainly wasn't pretty as far as Manchester United were concerned.
Cesc Fabregas' Como side cut through them time and again with the visitors often left chasing shadows.
In fact, Como's 594 completed passes were the most against United in the Champions League since Barcelona in April 2019 (725).
It led to a situation where, after Jacobo Ramon's header for the Italians, United found themselves four goals down in a Champions League match for the first time since November 1994, when they were beaten 4-0 by Barcelona.
Only Joshua Zirkzee's injury-time consolation prevented United suffering their joint second-worst European defeat of all time.
It was an entirely fair scoreline as well with Como creating four Opta-defined 'big chances' to United's one and comfortably winning the xG, too.
The embarrassment was heightened by the knowledge that when United were last crowned European champions in 2008, Como were playing semi-professional football in front of a couple of hundred spectators in Serie D.
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Man Utd players are overpaid and under worked. They feel they are untouchable. I’d rather finish 15th with academy players who care than sack Carrick and get Europe only for the next manager to be sacked when they stop trying. Time to drop the stroppy players.
Paddy, Dublin
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Man Utd is like a house with black mould. It doesn't matter how many surface level changes you make, the root of the problem is still there. The whole thing needs ripping out and replacing. Executives, players and manager.
Richard, South Wales
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Totally unacceptable from the captain, who should be the embodiment of unity and respect in the team. To call out the manager after such a poor team performance shows Bruno should no longer be a part of Manchester United's long-term plans.
Adam, Bristol
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Only a week ago, Lisandro Martinez kicked up a storm by criticising the Manchester United hierarchy after a Champions League defeat.
Now United captain Bruno Fernandes has rounded on the tactics employed by head coach Michael Carrick following a humiliating 4-1 loss at Champions League debutants Como.
What did you make of the performance, result and subsequent fallout?
Send your messages to us using the Get Involved button and we will publish a cross-section.
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Como 4-1 Manchester United
Image source, Getty ImagesTold of the comments made by his captain Bruno Fernandes in his post-match news conference, Michael Carrick offered a curt response:
"There's a little bit of whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don't run, and you don't run forward, and you don't run back, you aren't going to win."
Como 4-1 Manchester United
If Michael Carrick was angry about the 4-1 scoreline and the manner of Manchester United's capitulation against a Como side playing in their first Champions League campaign, then Bruno Fernandes' scathing post-match interview will not have improved his mood.
The United captain turned on the club's head coach, criticising his tactical approach.
"It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confidence," he told broadcaster TNT Sports after the humiliating defeat.
Asked directly whether Carrick got his tactics wrong, Fernandes added: "That's on the manager and staff to see it, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable."
'That is on the manager' - Fernandes on Man Utd tactics
Como 4-1 Manchester United
Image source, Getty ImagesMichael Carrick was asked how he would raise the mood before Manchester United's next match - at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday:
“Again, it's not about me. I'm okay, I'm bitterly disappointed, I'm frustrated, more than frustrated, I’m really angry to be honest, but you've got to move on to what's next.
"See what that looks like at this moment in time, there's a lot to do before that next game and to get the team ready because that was a difficult night for everyone tonight.”
Como 4-1 Manchester United
Michael Carrick seemed to ignore the Manchester United players at the full-time whistle as he went to acknowledge the travelling supporters, repeatedly holding his hands up in apology, in the manner of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following the 4-1 defeat at Watford in November 2021 - which led to his dismissal 24 hours later.
"I have to apologise to the supporters," said the former United midfielder.
"I care about this football club as much as anyone, if not more, with the position that I'm in and what I value this football club. For us to play in that way is not acceptable."
And he added: "I'm feeling the same as them. We've got a lot of values in this football club; what we represent and how we want to go about it. We might win, we might lose, but the way we went about it tonight wasn't acceptable. I just wanted to let the fans know that I feel for them.
"Listen. I've not given my own position any thought - this is for the supporters - I was one of them watching that and I wasn't happy all."
Carrick says sorry to Man Utd fans and then walks straight off pitch
