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Man United players get Thursday day off despite Como thrashing - sources

Manchester United's first-team squad will report back for training on Friday after being given a day off today following the humiliating 4-1 Champions League defeat against Como, sources have told ESPN.

The result against the Serie A side was United's heaviest Champions League loss since a 4-0 reverse against Barcelona in November 1994 and leaves Michael Carrick's team in 21st position in the League Phase table after one win and two defeats in their opening three games in the competition.

But despite the magnitude of the defeat against Cesc Fàbregas' side, which led to captain Bruno Fernandes criticising the team's tactics -- Carrick responded by questioning the "running" of his players -- sources have said that the players will take their pre-arranged day off today before preparing for Sunday's Premier League home clash with Bournemouth on Friday.

United's flight back from Italy landed at Manchester at 12.20 a.m. on Thursday morning and sources have said that the decision to give the players a day off was based on recovery ahead of the weekend fixture against Bournemouth, who are in Europa League action against AC Milan on Thursday.

Manchester United players have been given a day off on Thursday despite Wednesday's heavy defeat. Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

United are winless in their last seven games in all competitions and have lost four of those fixtures, against Manchester City, Brighton, Atlético Madrid and Como.

They go into the Bournemouth game sitting 13th in the Premier League having won just one league game all season with fitness concerns over several players including Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martínez, Ayden Heaven and Benjamin Sesko.

- Tielemans: 'Everything missing' in Utd's Como loss
- Champions League talking points: What to make of the Man Utd mess
- Carragher slams Fernandes for Carrick criticism

"I'm frustrated, more than frustrated. I'm really angry, to be honest," Carrick said after Thursday's game.

"But you've got to move on, you've got to deal with what's next and see what that looks like.

"At this moment in time, there's a lot to do before that next game, to get the team ready, because that was a difficult night for everyone."

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