Como 4–1 United, and it could have been worse
Your team got taken apart by a Champions League debutant. Como beat United 4–1 on Wednesday in Italy, with Nico Paz scoring twice and adding an assist (1). United are now seven games without a win.
Paz did not hold back on what it meant. "It's one of the most special nights of my life and my career, for me and for the club. It was an historic night because we played against one of the best clubs ever and to do this at home is incredible" (1).
The English press called it "embarrassing" and said Carrick stands on the edge of the abyss (6). Dimitar Berbatov went further: "Como looked like they were just having fun. It looked like men against kids" (2) (12).
Get the next Manchester United FC brief by email
This article went out to subscribers as a brief. Get the next one straight to your inbox, free.
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Bruno questioned the tactics out loud
Your captain did not defend the plan. Bruno Fernandes said the decision not to press man to man came from the staff. "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" (6) (8) (9).
Carrick owned it
Carrick did not hide. He took full responsibility and kept it blunt: "If you don't run forward and you don't run back, you aren't going to win" (7) (8). He apologised to the away fans after the whistle.
Journalists are already reading the gesture. Samuel Luckhurst: "Carrick's gesture reminiscent of Solskjaer after his final game at Watford. Difference was Solskjaer got loudly booed" (8).
Players are not happy behind the scenes
Fabrizio Romano says the mood has shifted inside the squad. "For the very first time we have players at Manchester United not so happy with the current situation" (4).
Nagelsmann is the name being linked
United have reportedly made initial moves to explore Julian Nagelsmann as a replacement for Carrick (5) (10). Fabian Hürzeler, Antonio Conte and Jürgen Klopp also appear in the reporting (10). Jürgen Klopp once called Nagelsmann a "big, big, big coaching talent" (10).
Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday
United sit 13th with 7 points from 7 games and a goal difference of zero. Form reads D D L D L. Bournemouth come to Old Trafford on Sunday at 15:00 CET, then it is Chelsea away on Saturday, October 31.
Vuskovic on the radar
United are one of four clubs tracking Brighton defender Luka Vuskovic, 19, alongside Liverpool and Real Madrid, with Tottenham also watching (15).
Fan reactions
The mood on r/soccer is grim and fixed on one thing: Carrick's job. The thread title itself frames the 4–1 as a humiliation that puts his position in jeopardy, and the comment section is less about the goals than about how far this squad has fallen.
https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1xc2rxz/como_41_manchester_united_michael_carrick_job_in
