Manchester United suffered a heavy defeat against Como in the UEFA Champions League, exacerbating the Red Devils’ crisis and increasing the pressure on Michael Carrick amidst a disastrous start that has brought his future back into question.
The collapse against Cesc Fàbregas’s side came in the third matchday of the league phase, as United entered the fixture seeking to halt their poor run of results, but left Italy having endured one of the heaviest blows of their season.
Como thrashed their visitors 4-1, with Nico Paz scoring twice in the 2nd and 57th minutes, while Anastasios Douvikas and Jacopo Ramón added goals in the 49th and 76th minutes, leaving United with a late consolation strike from Joshua Zirkzee in stoppage time.
With this result, United’s winless streak extended to seven consecutive matches across all competitions, dating back to their victory over Azerbaijan’s Sabah on September 10. Their overall tally this season stands at just two wins, alongside four draws and five defeats from 11 official matches.
Domestically, the team occupies 13th place in the Premier League with seven points from seven games, having recorded a single win, four draws, and two losses. Their record after the opening six matchdays was the club’s worst since the 1986-1987 season.
United had previously exited the League Cup in the third round following a 3-2 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford, despite leading by two goals within the first ten minutes—marking the first time they lost a home match after holding a two-goal advantage since 1976.
On the European front, a comfortable start featuring a 4-0 win over Sabah dissolved after a 2-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid followed by Como’s four goals, leaving the team stuck on three points, having conceded six goals in their last two European fixtures.
Prior to the trip to Como, Carrick had addressed questions regarding his future by stating: “I don’t need reassurances. I know my role and my responsibilities.” However, the fresh defeat further complicates his position, though no official dismissal has been announced as of yet.
This collapse comes months after Carrick led the team to a third-place finish and a return to the Champions League, earning him a permanent two-year contract, before the start of his full tenure transformed into a struggle to regain results and confidence ahead of a meeting with Bournemouth this coming Sunday.
