Michael Carrick’s tenure as Manchester United manager appears increasingly precarious following a dismal 4-1 Champions League defeat against Como on Wednesday. The loss in Italy leaves United with a record of only two victories from 11 matches across all competitions this season, a slump that has seen them drop to 13th in the Premier League and suffer an early exit from 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 Carrick’s future ahead of Sunday’s match against Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Following the final whistle, a noticeably angry Carrick approached the 700 travelling supporters to offer a personal apology, pointedly bypassing his own players. Noticeably ignoring his players, at the end around 200 remained and Carrick went to apologise to them. 700 United supporters travelled.
When questioned about his job security, the 45-year-old manager stated that he had not considered his own position. 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.”.
Instead, he expressed his frustration on behalf of the fans, noting that he shared their dissatisfaction with the performance. Carrick insisted his primary focus remains on the club’s identity, stating, “It’s not about me right now and my feelings in that regard. It’s more of as a team and as a football club, what we want to look like, what we should look like. Results can come and go at times, but you have to do it in a certain way.”
The match quickly turned into a rout for Cesc Fàbregas’s side. Nico Paz opened the scoring in the second minute, and by the 57th minute, Como held a commanding 3-0 lead following a second goal from Paz and a strike from Tasos Douvikas. Jacobo Ramón extended the advantage in the 76th minute before Joshua Zirkzee grabbed a consolation goal 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 flared post-match as captain Bruno Fernandes publicly questioned the team’s tactical approach, specifically the decision to avoid man-to-man pressing. “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,” the midfielder observed. While stopping short of saying the tactics were fundamentally wrong, Fernandes suggested the team should have been “more brave” under pressure.
Carrick responded to the captain’s criticism by highlighting the team’s lack of effort, noting that they had attempted to press in the second half but conceded anyway. “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,” the manager emphasized.
As he prepares for the upcoming Bournemouth fixture, Carrick acknowledged the depth of the crisis at Old Trafford. “I’m bitterly disappointed, I’m frustrated; more than frustrated, I’m really angry,” he said. “There’s a lot to do before that next game to get the team ready because that was a difficult night for everyone.”
