Bruno Fernandes Questions Carrick's Tactics After Manchester United's Champions League Loss

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has voiced concerns over manager Michael Carrick's tactics after the team suffered a heavy 4-1 loss in the Champions League against Como. This defeat marks a new low for the club this season, with Carrick having now lost five of his eleven games in charge.

Fernandes specifically questioned the team's passive approach and lack of pressing, suggesting it allowed the opposition too much space and confidence. "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," Fernandes stated.

When asked if Carrick's tactics were at fault, Fernandes deferred, saying, "That's on the manager and staff to say, not me." He elaborated on the need for greater bravery under pressure and the willingness to take risks by pressing higher up the pitch to make opponents uncomfortable. "We need to do that as a team but we were unable to," he added, noting how Como's center-back was marking him in his own half.

He further explained that when teams are given too much time and space, particularly when playing through the middle with quick connections, they can exploit the flanks. The match saw United concede an early goal for the second consecutive game, with Nico Paz scoring for Como within two minutes, similar to conceding within 50 seconds in their previous match against Atletico.

"It's not the first time, we started on the wrong foot, and they scored very early," Fernandes said. He described the conceding of an early goal as putting the team into a "mood of defeat," making it difficult to recover and exhibit the bravery and ball possession needed to change the game's outcome.