Full Breakdown
Manchester United’s 4-1 Champions League Defeat to Como Deepens Carrick’s Job Uncertainty
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On a rain-soaked Wednesday at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Manchester United were outplayed 4-1 by Cesc Fàbregas’s Como. Nico Paz opened the scoring inside two minutes, making United the first English side to concede in the opening two minutes of back-to-back Champions League matches (the previous loss was 2-0 to Atlético Madrid). Goals from Paz, Anastasios Douvikas and Jacobo Ramón completed the rout, while Joshua Zirkzee added a late consolation.
Background & Context
United entered the group stage after a strong finish to the previous season, but the 2026-27 campaign has been their worst start in 40 years. The team is winless in seven consecutive matches across all competitions and sits 13th in the Premier League. Their last victory came on September 10, a 4-0 win over Sabah FK. The early concession to Atlético Madrid a week earlier had already set a negative tone, and the Como defeat extended the winless run to a club-record low.
Data & Statistics
- Final score: Como 4 – 1 Manchester United.
- United’s early goal came at 1 minute 57 seconds; the second-minute concession mirrors the 47-second goal against Atlético Madrid.
- United have now conceded in the first two minutes of consecutive major European fixtures – a first for any English club.
- The loss marks United’s sixth defeat in eleven Champions League games overall and their seventh loss in all competitions this season.
- Only three points have been earned from the first three group matches; Como sit on six points after two wins.
Official Statements & Responses
Manager Michael Carrick took responsibility, telling TNT Sports that “the buck stops with me” and that the performance was “unacceptable.”
Criticism & Opposition
Captain Bruno Fernandes publicly questioned the tactical set-up, describing the decision not to press man-to-man as giving space to the opposition and allowing them confidence. Carragher also warned that the club’s problems run deeper than the manager, stating that United are “rotten from top to bottom.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “I have not given my own position any thought,” — Share Man United’s Carrick, manchester united coach
- “I’m frustrated, more than frustrated, I’m really angry, to be honest,” — Share Man United’s Carrick, manchester united coach
- “I want to apologize to the supporters,” — Share Man United’s Carrick, manchester united coach
- “That’s on the manager and the staff to say it, that’s not on me. I just said I think sometimes we have to be more brave under pressure and trying to take a risk of getting that press very high and making them uncomfortable.” — Bruno Fernandes, manchester united captain
- “We actually were half-pressed man-to-man in the second half and then conceded a goal from that,” — Share Man United’s Carrick, manchester united coach
What’s Next
United’s next test is a Premier League home game against AFC Bournemouth on October 25. The fixture offers Carrick a chance to halt the winless streak, but the pressure from supporters, the captain and pundits suggests the manager’s tenure may be evaluated after the match.