Manchester United manager Michael Carrick finds his position under heavy scrutiny following a crushing 4-1 loss to Como in their third Champions League group stage match on Wednesday. The defeat highlights a dismal campaign for United, who have managed only two victories across 11 competitive fixtures this season, currently sitting 13th in the Premier League and having already exited the Carabao Cup. Carrick was then asked if he could walk away following the latest defeat in Europe. “No.
The club’s hierarchy, including director of football Jason Wilcox, chief executive Omar Berrada, and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are expected to deliberate on the manager’s future ahead of Sunday’s match against Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Following the loss, an visibly angry Carrick insisted he has not considered his own status, noting that his primary focus remains on the supporters who travelled to Italy.
Approximately 700 United fans made the trip, and at the conclusion of the match, Carrick walked over to apologize to the approximately 200 remaining spectators, pointedly bypassing his players. Noticeably ignoring his players, at the end around 200 remained and Carrick went to apologise to them. 700 United supporters travelled.
The match itself was a one-sided affair; Nico Paz opened the scoring in the second minute, and by the 57th minute, the Italian side held a 3-0 lead following further goals from Tasos Douvikas and a second from Paz. Jacobo Ramón extended the lead before Joshua Zirkzee scored a late consolation for United in stoppage time. Due to Tasos Douvikas’s strike and Paz’s second, before Jacobo Ramón completed the scoring for the Italian side on 76 minutes, by 57 minutes Como led 3-0.
Tensions surfaced publicly when Bruno Fernandes questioned the staff’s tactical instructions regarding the team’s lack of a man-to-man press. The captain suggested that the decision to sit back allowed the opposition to build confidence. “That’s on the manager and staff to see, not me,” Fernandes remarked, emphasizing that the team needs to be braver under pressure and push higher up the pitch to make opponents uncomfortable. Fernandes openly challenged Carrick’s strategy during the match. “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,” he said. You got to deal with what’s next and see what that looks like.
Carrick defended his approach when asked about the captain’s comments, pointing out that an attempt to switch to a half-press in the second half resulted in conceding another goal. He stressed that success regardless of the system requires consistent work rate. “Whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don’t run, and you don’t run forward, and you don’t run back, you ain’t going to win,” he stated.
Addressing whether he might step down, Carrick reiterated that the current focus must remain on the team’s identity and performance standards rather than his personal feelings. He admitted to being deeply frustrated and angry with the display, acknowledging that significant work is required to prepare the squad for their upcoming challenges. “I’m bitterly disappointed, I’m frustrated; more than frustrated, I’m really angry.
“Listen, I’ve not given my own position any thought,” Carrick said. “[My thoughts are] for the supporters – I was one of them watching that and I wasn’t happy at all.” He underscored that the club needs to define how it should look and function on the pitch, adding, “the results can come and go at times, but you got to do it in a certain way.” The 45-year-old was asked if he fears for his job. “Listen, I’ve not given my own position any thought,” he said. “[My thoughts are] for the supporters – I was one of them watching that and I wasn’t happy at all.”.
