The result marked United's second successive defeat in the competition, piling further pressure on Carrick as the club's struggles show little sign of easing. With questions mounting over his future, Sunday's Premier League clash against Bournemouth at Old Trafford is shaping up to be a potentially decisive encounter for the under-fire head coach.

Ferdinand took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to vent his frustration, writing: "Cesc Fabregas Como have made us look like a team who had won a RAFFLE to be in the Champions league. At times it looked as though Como had 12 players on the pitch. We were TOOTHLESS in attack NO running power in the team An INABILITY to press Como NO patterns in possession A lot of credit has to go to Cesc and the way he has built this team & then you see the way he has got his ideas into this team. Everyone knows their jobs and are dialled in in and out of possession.

"They play to teammates under pressure - a great example of trust in one another. But that is no excuse for us, we were poor on the night and look a team on zero confidence right now - so much to do to turn this around.... And I haven't even got onto the injuries! The difference in budgets certainly wasn’t reflected in the difference between the two teams on the pitch! Nico Paz - lovely footballer btw."

United's dismal start to the season took another turn for the worse, with a visibly furious Carrick once again apologising for his side's performance. He headed straight to the away end to personally apologise to the travelling supporters before turning his frustration towards his own players.

After questioning their effort levels, Carrick was asked if the players were still playing for him. "It's not about playing for me, it's about playing for this football club," he added. "It's the responsibility that comes with being in the position; I'm responsible for the football club and the supporters. I'm giving my best, absolute best all the time, I care about it. My whole life's wrapped around it. I genuinely give everything that I possibly can."

Quizzed on whether his players were doing the same, Carrick said: "I'd like to think so. I didn't like what I saw tonight, though."

"It's not the first time, we started on the wrong foot, and they scored very early. Not much pressure on the ball, not many good movements with the ball, not many things going our way. Conceding early makes us go into game with a mood of defeat, it's difficult to get out of that, trying to be brave, to have the ball and make something happen. If we are not able to do that, it is going to be very difficult to get out of this situation."

When pressed further on Carrick's role in the defeat, Fernandes replied: "That's on the manager and staff to see, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable. As you saw with them [Como], the centre-back was coming to mark me in my own half. We need to do that as a team but we were unable to. A team that plays through the middle with small connections, if you give them too much time and space then they can hurt you out wide."

Sunday's Premier League clash against Bournemouth could prove decisive for Carrick's future, with United having managed just one victory in their opening seven league matches.