Manchester United slumped to a humiliating 4-1 Champions League defeat against Como at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on October 21, 2026, extending their winless run to seven matches and pushing manager Michael Carrick to the brink of dismissal.
In the driving Lombardy rain, visiting Manchester United were outfought and outclassed by competition debutants Como. Nico Paz orchestrated the dismantling, scoring twice and providing an assist as Cesc Fàbregas’s side ran out comprehensive 4-1 winners on Wednesday evening. The defeat leaves United 21st in the league phase table after three matches, having collected just three points.
3 – Nico Paz is the youngest 🇦🇷 Argentinian player (22 years, 43 days) to be involved in three goals (2 goals, 1 assist) in a UEFA Champions League game since 21-year-old Lionel Messi in April 2009 against Bayern Munich.Game-changer. pic.twitter.com/3iZH5xQj08
Bruno Fernandes Questions Staff Tactics After Early Como Collapse
Frustrations boiled over immediately at the full-time whistle as captain Bruno Fernandes openly criticized the tactical setup chosen by the management team. Como opened the scoring in the second minute through an early strike, setting a tone of collapse that Fernandes described as a “mood of defeat” that the squad struggled to escape.
It’s a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, wait for them, but sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence.
Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United Captain
Asked directly if his assessment amounted to criticism of the coaching staff, Fernandes deflected the blame back to the bench. That’s on the manager and staff to see, not me,
the midfielder said.
💙🤍💥 Como make it four against Manchester United!Nico Páz & co show, another defeat for the Red Devils.Who’s been your Man of the Match? pic.twitter.com/pa8ar3LKPN
He argued that the team needed to be braver under pressure rather than sitting off opponents and inviting waves of attacks.
When those remarks regarding the tactical choices were put back to the manager, Carrick noted that his side did shift to a man-to-man press in the second half but conceded directly out of that setup. Carrick also reflected on the physical commitment required on the pitch, noting that teams cannot expect to win if players fail to run both forward and backward.
Match Report: Como – Manchester UnitedThe 2026/27 UEFA Champions League Matchday 3 ended in emphatic fashion as Como secured a stunning 4-1 victory over Manchester United in front of their home fans.🔗📝 https://t.co/hRuFngDh1u pic.twitter.com/Dg966pnqZt
Michael Carrick Accepts Blame After Heavy Defeat in Italy
Manager Michael Carrick cut a desolate figure on the touchline, remaining seated on the bench as Como ran riot. When the match concluded, he walked across the pitch to apologize to the roughly 200 traveling supporters who remained in the stands, raising his hands in supplication while ignoring his own players before heading down the tunnel.
I’m really angry but you’ve got to move on and deal with what’s next. At this moment in time, there’s a lot to do before the next game to get the team ready, because that was a difficult night for everybody.
Michael Carrick, Manchester United Manager
Addressing reporters after the match, Carrick made no excuses for the performance, admitting that his team lacked the necessary intensity and purpose. He acknowledged that the result stops with him and that the display was unacceptable for a club of Manchester United’s stature.
Team personnel unavailable for the fixture included Benjamin Šeško, Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Ayden Heaven, and Marcus Rashford. To try and stabilize the depleted defensive resources, Matthijs de Ligt was thrown straight into the starting lineup alongside Harry Maguire, marking his first competitive start in 325 days following back problems.
Historic European Defeat Matches 2015 Winless Run
The 4-1 defeat equals one of the heaviest European reverses in the club’s modern history, sparing them a record margin only due to Joshua Zirkzee’s stoppage-line consolation goal. The streak without a victory now spans seven consecutive matches, matching the longest winless drought the club endured back in December 2015 under Louis van Gaal.
80 | Triple change 🔁➡️ Dossena – Ricci – Smolčić⬅️ Perrone – Paz – Couto#ComoManUtd 4-0
Defensive vulnerabilities were exposed immediately.
Executive Board Faces Decisions Ahead of Bournemouth Match
Pressure mounts instantly on the executive board to decide whether to stick with Carrick or make a change just 11 games into his permanent tenure. United return to domestic action on Sunday afternoon hosting Bournemouth at Old Trafford, followed by further tests in the Champions League group phase, including an away trip against Sporting CP on November 25, a home fixture against RB Leipzig on December 8, a home match against Bayern Munich on January 20, and an away trip to Villarreal on January 27.
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