Former defender Rio Ferdinand and current captain Bruno Fernandes have criticized Manchester United manager Michael Carrick following the team’s severe 4-1 loss against Como in the UEFA Champions League.
The Serie A outfit, coached by Cesc Fabregas, comfortably outplayed the English side. Nico Paz scored twice for Como, with Anastasios Douvikas and Jacobo Ramón adding the remaining goals.
Ferdinand Reacts to Defeat
Following the match, Ferdinand voiced his frustration on X, questioning the squad’s physical effort and overall organization on the pitch.
“Cesc Fabregas’ Como have made us look like a team who had won a raffle to be in the Champions League,” Ferdinand wrote. He noted that Manchester United struggled with “no running power in the team, no patterns of play and an inability to press Como,” while praising the tactical clarity Fabregas established despite the disparity in club budgets.
Fernandes Questions Tactical Decisions
The post-match commentary followed statements from Fernandes, who pointed toward tactical instructions as a major factor in the defeat. His comments come just a week after defender Lisandro Martinez expressed criticism toward technical director Jason Wilcox.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Fernandes explained that the game plan prevented the players from closing down opponents aggressively. “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,” Fernandes said.
When asked if Carrick selected the wrong strategy, Fernandes added that evaluating tactics remains the duty of the coaching staff, emphasizing that the team needed to take more risks by pressing higher up the field.
