Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has questioned the team's defensive approach after a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como left head coach Michael Carrick facing questions about his leadership.

The Portuguese midfielder pointed to United's pressing strategy as one area that needed scrutiny, suggesting the team's decision to allow Como time on the ball gave their opponents an opportunity to settle into the contest.

Fernandes discussed the tactical issue during his post-match interview with TNT Sports, explaining that United's coaching staff had chosen not to employ a man-to-man pressing system.

According to the midfielder, the approach sometimes left spaces for Como to exploit while allowing the Italian side to build confidence through possession.

Fernandes stopped short of openly accusing Carrick of making the wrong decisions when asked whether the manager's tactics had contributed to the defeat.

However, he emphasised the importance of applying greater pressure on opponents.

He said the coaching staff needed to assess the decisions made during the match, adding that United could have taken more risks by pressing higher up the pitch to disrupt Como's build-up play.

Carrick was subsequently confronted with his captain's assessment during the post-match press conference.

The United boss shifted attention towards the players' effort, arguing that tactical systems alone could not deliver results without sufficient work rate.

The former midfielder insisted that players must be prepared to work in both directions, regardless of the formation or strategy selected by the coaching staff.

The defeat also produced an emotional response from Carrick, who apologised to approximately 700 Manchester United supporters who had travelled to watch the match.

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