According to a report by the Evening Standard on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has raised concerns about Michael Carrick’s tactical decisions following the club’s disappointing 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como.

The heavy loss has increased the pressure on Carrick, who is reportedly experiencing a seven-game winless run during his first season as Manchester United’s permanent head coach. Como, managed by Cesc Fabregas, delivered an impressive performance, with Nico Paz playing a decisive role in the Italian side’s victory.

Following the final whistle, Carrick appeared to apologise to United’s travelling supporters in Italy by raising his hands towards them, acknowledging their disappointment after the team’s poor display.

Fernandes also expressed frustration with his teammates’ performance, pointing to their slow start, inaccurate passing and limited movement in attack. The Portuguese midfielder believed that conceding an early goal made the situation more difficult, particularly because United struggled to maintain possession and create clear scoring opportunities.

The United captain also questioned the team’s pressing strategy, suggesting that their opponents were given excessive freedom to build attacks. He believed the players needed to apply greater pressure and adopt a more aggressive approach when attempting to win the ball back.

Fernandes acknowledged that decisions concerning tactics and the overall game plan ultimately belonged to Carrick and his coaching staff. However, he emphasised the importance of taking greater risks and pushing higher up the pitch to disrupt Como’s rhythm.

To illustrate his concerns, Fernandes pointed to Como’s defensive approach, explaining how one of their centre-backs followed him into United’s half to prevent him from receiving the ball comfortably. The strategy demonstrated the intensity with which Como attempted to restrict United’s movement.

The midfielder suggested that Manchester United needed to show similar determination by pressing collectively, closing down passing options and making life difficult for their opponents. Without sufficient pressure, he warned, teams with technically gifted midfielders could exploit spaces and create dangerous attacking opportunities.

Como took full advantage of United’s defensive weaknesses, using intelligent movement and effective passing combinations to open up spaces across the pitch. Their ability to move the ball quickly repeatedly exposed problems in the visitors’ defensive structure.

The defeat has intensified scrutiny of Carrick’s management, with supporters expressing dissatisfaction across social media and questioning the team’s direction. United must now address their tactical shortcomings, improve their defensive organisation and restore confidence as pressure continues to mount on the coaching staff.