Did Carrick's Mount move back up Bruno's words?

Bruno Fernandes' comments after the Como match drew wide criticism. The stands at Old Trafford also showed that such remarks should not be voiced openly inside the club. Still, the Portuguese midfielder had said that giving the opponent too much possession encourages them, and that the team should play more bravely under pressure.

According to the writer, this assessment is tactically consistent. In modern football, the divide between big clubs that keep the ball and press high and teams that sit in a low block and counter-attack becomes clear at exactly this point. United's squad and the club's stature call for a style of play closer to the first group.

Carrick, like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is continuing the tactical line from the Sir Alex Ferguson era. The data supports this. Since Carrick took over, United rank ninth in Premier League possession and thirteenth in pressing intensity. In contrast, over the last nine months they have been at the top of the league in direct attacks and fast counter-attacks.

In Saturday's 3-0 defeat, the tactics appear to bear limited responsibility. Still, using Mount on the left and having him move inside shows that width is not being used the way it normally would be. That choice means a setup without the wide players who usually attack with pace.