Manchester United lose 4-1 to Como, Carrick delivers harsh criticism

In the UEFA Champions League, Manchester United lost 4-1 away to the Italian side Como. The English club have now gone seven consecutive official matches without a win.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Bruno Fernandes said that not pressing the opponent man to man was a choice made by the coaching staff. The Portuguese player argued that giving Como a lot of space and letting the opponent keep the ball boosted the Italian side's confidence. Fernandes said the team needs to play with more courage and press high up the pitch. Asked whether Michael Carrick's choices were wrong, he said that assessing them was the job of the head coach and his staff.

When Fernandes' words were put to him at the press conference, Carrick criticized his players' effort. The English coach said that whatever system or tactic is chosen, winning is impossible if the players do not run forward and back.

Carrick did not go over to his players at the end of the match, and instead saluted the roughly 700 fans who had backed the team away from home. He apologized to the fans, saying the team's performance was unacceptable. He left questions about his future as head coach unanswered.

Manchester United will host Bournemouth at Old Trafford in the Premier League in their next match on Sunday, 25 October.