Video: Fernandes hits out at Manchester United backroom staff, questions tactics after Como humiliation
Abdullateef Fowewe
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has appeared to criticise Michael Carrick and his backroom staff after the Red Devils were thrashed 4-1 by Como in the Champions League, saying the team’s failure to press aggressively allowed the Italians to grow in confidence.
Fernandes, who played as a false nine and was substituted in the 67th minute, suggested United’s cautious approach left too much room for Cesc Fabregas’ side to play through midfield and attack United’s wide areas.
“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,” Fernandes said after the defeat.
“But sometimes when you give space to these teams, they get confidence.”
Asked directly whether he was saying Carrick got the tactics wrong, the Portugal international stopped short of an outright accusation but made his frustration clear.
“That’s on the manager and staff to see, not me,” he said.
“Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable,” he added.
Fernandes pointed to Como’s aggressive defending as an example that United failed to match.
“As you saw with them, the centre-back was coming to mark me in my own half,” he added.
“We need to do that as a team, but we were unable to.”
The United captain also warned that Como’s compact play through the middle would punish any side that gave them time and space.
“A team that plays through the middle with small connections, if you give them too much time and space, then they can hurt you out wide,” Fernandes said.
His comments came after Como scored twice through Nico Paz, with further goals from Anastasios Douvikas and Jacobo Ramón.
Joshua Zirkzee’s stoppage-time strike was only a consolation for United.
The defeat was United’s seventh consecutive match without a win in all competitions, deepening the crisis around Carrick, who took charge after Ruben Amorim’s sacking.
United are now 22nd in the Champions League league-phase table and 13th in the Premier League, with supporters increasingly turning their anger toward the head coach after the humiliation at the Stadio Sinigaglia.
Fernandes’ remarks are likely to intensify scrutiny of Carrick’s game plan, particularly after a performance in which United were outplayed, lacked pressing intensity and struggled to contain Como’s midfield movement.
