Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and head coach Michael Carrick held contrasting views on the team’s tactical approach following a 4-1 defeat to Como in the UEFA Champions League. The loss extended United’s winless run to seven matches, sparking a debate over whether the squad should have sat off their opponents or pressed man-to-man.
The Passing Statistics and Defensive Compactness
Fernandes stated after the match that United afforded Como too much time and space in possession, attributing the issue to the coaching staff’s decision to avoid a man-to-man press. According to SkySports reporting, the statistics supported his observation regarding space, as Como completed 600 passes—the highest number by any opponent against United this campaign. The previous two matches against Atletico Madrid and Leeds also saw high passing numbers from opponents, aligning with Carrick’s recent strategy to maintain a more compact and solid defensive shape. However, unlike the fixtures against Leeds and Atletico, United failed to display defensive solidity in Italy. Como’s chances did not stem from extended passing sequences, with their fourth goal originating from a sequence of 13 passes, while the longest opposition passing sequence against United this season reached 45 passes against Fulham in September. Furthermore, Como won the ball back in the attacking third five times compared to United’s four, undermining Fernandes’ claim that the Italian side provided a masterclass in pressing.
Fatigue and Early Goal Concessions
Fernandes also argued that sitting off and chasing the ball throughout the match caused fatigue and subsequent errors among the United players. However, the timing of Como’s initial two goals—arriving within five minutes of the opening whistle and the start of the second half respectively—contradicted this fatigue theory. For the opening goal inside two minutes, United defended with a deep backline while midfielders tracked back slowly, leaving seven United players against five hosts in the defensive third. Despite the numerical advantage, Matheus Cunha failed to prevent Nico Paz from finding space on the edge of the area, and Harry Maguire backed off before Paz curled his shot into the far corner. Additionally, Carlos Baleba made a crucial turnover leading to Como’s third goal less than 15 minutes after entering the pitch as a substitute, ruling out fatigue as a factor for that error.
Evaluating the Mid-Block and Personnel Suitability
Addressing his captain’s remarks in a post-match press conference, Carrick countered that United “half pressed man to man” in the second half and conceded goals as a direct result. SkySports noted that Carrick’s assessment held validity, as United’s defensive shape during Como’s second goal four minutes after the restart resembled a mid-block, with the press initiating once Como reached the middle third. Baleba and Noussair Mazraoui both failed to pressure their respective opponents, exposing a large gap between the center-backs and midfield that Como exploited through two simple passes to set up Anastasios Douvikas. Carrick has continued to field central defenders like Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, and Matthijs de Ligt—who started following a lengthy injury layoff—despite their lack of suitability for a high-intensity man-to-man pressing system. Implementing such a style requires defenders with the speed and agility to execute recovery runs, characteristics more naturally suited to Leny Yoro, who has predominantly featured at right-back or remained on the bench.
Player Effort and Tracking Back
Carrick additionally emphasized that tactics are irrelevant if players fail to track back, pointing to a clear lack of effort evident throughout the fixture. The failure to recover was glaring on Como’s second and fourth goals, as front-three attackers Fernandes, Youri Tielemans, and BryanMbeumo walked back and remained near the halfway line while Como advanced. The fourth goal highlighted defensive disorganization, with Maguire out of position and attempting to recover, leaving Jacobo Ramon with space to attack. Neither Baleba nor Diogo Dalot sprinted back to cover the space, with 33-year-old Maguire ultimately outrunning Baleba before confronting the midfielder after the ball hit the net.
Source: SkySports | News
