Europe has always been where Manchester United measure themselves against the best.

Camp Nou in 1999 and Moscow in 2008 still define what the club believes it should be.

Those nights were built on togetherness, defiance and a dressing room that spoke with one voice.

This week’s trip to northern Italy felt a long way from any of that.

The scenes after the final whistle suggested a group that has stopped speaking the same language.

Manchester United players unhappy with Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes going public with his criticism of Michael Carrick went down badly with some of his team-mates and coaching staff, as The Athletic reports.

The captain told TNT Sports after the 4-1 defeat at Como that, “It’s a decision from the staff to not press man to man”.

Asked whether Carrick got it wrong, he said it was, “on the manager and staff to see, not me”.

Carrick hit back, pointing out United half-pressed man-to-man in the second half and conceded, and insisting that without running you will not win.

Nico Paz struck twice, including inside two minutes, before Anastasios Douvikas and Jacobo Ramon added to the rout and Joshua Zirkzee pulled one back late.

Carrick apologised to the travelling fans before heading down the tunnel without acknowledging his players.

Bruno Fernandes was among United’s worst before being substituted midway through the second half, while Matheus Cunha was hooked at half-time after a robust exchange of views with the manager.

Joe Cole called the comments “sacrilege”, Frank Leboeuf labelled them a “betrayal” and Neil Warnock described them as “a disgrace”.

Paul Scholes had already warned after the Hull defeat in August that such remarks are a slight on the manager and staff.

It is a far cry from last season, when Fernandes set a Premier League record with 21 assists, and he has struggled to rediscover that form.

Sky Sports reports he will not be stripped of the captaincy or disciplined, with the feeling at the club being that he was voicing understandable anger.

With United winless in seven and 13th in the table, Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann, Fabian Hurzeler and Antonio Conte lead the betting to replace Carrick, with Unai Emery also mentioned.

Carrick is set to take charge against Bournemouth on Sunday, with no plans beyond that.