According to a report by Manchester Evening News on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Youri Tielemans has criticised Manchester United’s performance after suggesting that a lack of effort, alongside tactical and technical shortcomings, contributed to their humiliating 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League.

Manchester United suffered a disappointing defeat on Wednesday as the Italian side outplayed them, increasing the pressure on head coach Michael Carrick following another poor result.

The loss has raised further concerns about United’s inconsistent performances this season, with their weaknesses exposed by Como, who controlled much of the game and took advantage of several problems within the English side.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Tielemans admitted that United had struggled in almost every area of their performance.

"There was a lot said at half-time to try and get back into the game, which didn't happen," he said.

"We conceded straight away after half-time, and then you try to do something, and we get outplayed. We got outplayed for most of the game, so it was a very disappointing night."

When asked to identify the main reasons behind the defeat, the Belgian midfielder explained that the team's problems went beyond a single issue.

"It's everything. You can be good tactically but if the effort isn't there, or the other way round, you have to be good at everything, but tonight we were poor at everything," he explained.

Tielemans’ comments about effort have raised questions about the commitment and determination of United’s players during their difficult spell, particularly as the team continues to struggle to deliver convincing performances.

The midfielder also revealed that the players had repeatedly discussed the need to improve in recent weeks but had failed to translate those conversations into better displays on the pitch.

"It's the same message as we've had the last few weeks. We can be here and talk about it, but we have to show it on the pitch," he said.

He acknowledged the frustration of Manchester United supporters, offering an apology to fans who travelled to Italy to watch the match and those who followed the action from home.

Tielemans stressed that the players understood the disappointment surrounding their performances but recognised that promises alone would not resolve the team's problems.

"The only thing we can do is try to show something on the pitch, which we haven't done over the last few weeks," Tielemans added.

His assessment comes at a challenging time for Carrick, whose position is facing increased scrutiny following United’s disappointing run of results.

The 4-1 loss to Como highlighted United’s defensive shortcomings and their inability to respond effectively under pressure. The English side went into half-time trailing 1-0, but their performance worsened after the break as Como scored three more goals before Joshua Zirkzee grabbed a late consolation.

Carrick introduced changes at half-time in an attempt to turn the game around, but his adjustments failed to produce the desired improvement as United suffered another damaging defeat.