Bruno Fernandes has urged Manchester United to stop leaning on the club’s history after a 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como, telling Sky Sport Italia that “we are no longer in the past”. Head coach Michael Carrick, asked about the comments, said he disagreed.
What Fernandes said
United lost at Como’s Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Wednesday night, 21 October, in the third round of league-phase matches. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia afterwards, the captain called it a very difficult moment, with the team failing both to collect points and to reach its own standards.
Asked how United could escape the run, Fernandes said everyone at the club has to accept that things are different now. He argued that the club spends too much time on past achievements and that both the institution and the players need to understand they are no longer that team. He added that players arrive hoping to win trophies and reach the highest level, but that the last few years have been very difficult.
On being substituted, he said nobody likes leaving the pitch, especially after a result like that. Sky Sport Italia’s touchline reporter said he was seen punching the dugout bench afterwards, according to Yahoo Sports’ account.
Fernandes on the pressing plan
Speaking to TNT Sports, Fernandes also criticised the approach. He said it was “a decision from the staff” not to press man-to-man and to leave space behind, and that this lets opponents grow in confidence and makes his own team run more. Asked whether the plan cost United in Italy, he said it was for the manager and staff to judge rather than him. He added that United need to be braver in pressing high, as Como were against them. Sky Sports reported the exchange.
Carrick’s response
Carrick told Sky Sport Italia he disagreed with Fernandes, while accepting that United are currently far from the level of the club’s history. He pointed out that since arriving in January his team won more points than any other side until the end of last season. He said that shows the group can deliver over a long period, but that they must do much better after this start.
He also told the press his side only half pressed man-to-man in the second half and conceded from it, and that tactics are irrelevant if players do not work to recover. He questioned the players’ motivation and intensity, said he was angry, and apologised to the travelling supporters.
The numbers behind the mood
United’s last win came on 10 September against Sabah in their opening European game. The defeat at Como stretched their winless run to seven games in all competitions, according to Sky Sports. They conceded after 118 seconds in Italy, following a goal after 47 seconds in the 2-0 defeat at Atlético Madrid on 13 October. Sky Sports reports they are the first English club to concede inside the opening two minutes of back-to-back major European matches.
Como completed 594 passes, the most by any side in a Champions League game against United since Barcelona’s 725 in April 2019. Como now have six points from three games in their first Champions League campaign, while United have three.
After the Atlético defeat, Lisandro Martinez publicly criticised the club’s hierarchy. Sky Sports reported that a meeting between Carrick, Martinez and technical director Jason Wilcox later repaired relations.
United host Bournemouth on Sunday in the Premier League, where the pressure to end the winless run will be high.
