Carrick vs Fernandes: Who Was Right About Man Utd Tactics

Fernandes blames tactics and fatigue but Carrick points to lack of effort after Como humbling

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and head coach Michael Carrick clashed over tactics following a 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como. Fernandes claimed United gave Como too much time and space, while Carrick said a failure to run back cost them. Here we examine the numbers to see who was right.

• Match: Como 4-1 Manchester United, Champions League
• United's run: Seven matches without a win
• Como possession: 600 passes completed by Como, the most by any opponent against United this season
• Recent trend: The three games with most opposition passes against United have come in the last three matches: Como, Atletico Madrid and Leeds
• United's press: Won the ball back in the attacking third four times, compared to Como's five
• Key errors: Carlos Baleba gave the ball away for Como's third; Harry Maguire was out of position for the fourth

Did United sit off Como too much?

Fernandes said United gave Como too much time and space in possession and blamed the staff's decision not to press man to man. United have attempted to press man to man at times this season, often with bad outcomes, and the current group appear ill-suited to that approach.

Fernandes is not wrong to say United gave Como a lot of space. The Italian side completed 600 passes, more than any other team in a game against United this season. The three games when opposition teams have completed most passes against United have come in the last three games against Como, Atletico Madrid and Leeds. This has coincided with Carrick's attempts to be more compact and solid defensively.

United, on a seven-match winless run, have not won any of those games. However, at Leeds (1-1 draw) and Atletico Madrid (2-0 defeat) there were signs of improvement in terms of defensive shape. There was no such defensive solidity or compactness in Italy.

But Como's chances did not come after long passing sequences. The most passes leading to a Como shot was 13, culminating in their fourth goal. For context, this season the longest opposition passing sequence leading to a shot against United was 45 passes against Fulham in September. The reality is that Como chose their moments and efficiently cut through United with ease.

The United captain's claim that Como had showed United how it should have been done with regard to the press is also undermined by the numbers: Como won the ball back in the attacking third five times compared to United's four.

Did chasing Como make Man Utd tired?

Fernandes also claimed that United were tired as a result of sitting off Como and chasing the ball down for most of the game, which led to mistakes. However, the fact Como's first two goals, the most crucial in terms of momentum, came within five minutes of the whistle going for kick-off and the second half suggest that Fernandes' conclusion is flawed.

For the opener, which came inside two minutes, United's backline were sat deep to defend their box, and the midfielders were ambling back in support. United had seven players to the hosts' five in the defensive third, which in theory should have been enough to keep Como out. However, Matheus Cunha allowed Nico Paz to drift into a big pocket of space on the edge of the box. Harry Maguire then backed off the Argentina international before he scored. Paz was surrounded by four United players when he curled the ball into the far corner.

It does not help Fernandes' argument that it was Carlos Baleba that made the error in possession for Como's third goal less than 15 minutes after being brought on. He can hardly claim to have been knackered already.

Was man-to-man pressing the problem for Como's second?

Carrick said United "half pressed man to man" in the second half and conceded as a result as he jabbed back at Fernandes when asked about his captain's comment in a post-match press conference. And he does have a point.

United's shape out of possession for Como's second goal - which came four minutes into the second half - was more of a mid-block. The press was triggered as Como entered the middle third of the pitch. Baleba pressured Lucas Da Cunha as he received the ball and Noussair Mazraoui stepped inside to pressure Martin Baturina when the ball was shifted inside to him. Neither of them got anywhere near their man.

The big gap between the centre-backs and the midfield was then exposed by two simple Como passes. The rest of the United players jogged back with little intensity as they watched Como progress the ball into the final third to create a 3v3 scenario from which Anastasios Douvikas scored.

Carrick has persisted with Maguire and Lisandro Martinez at centre-back this season when pressing man-to-man despite neither being suitable. Nor is Matthijs de Ligt, who started against Como after a long injury lay-off, as shown by the tumble he took before Como's second goal. Having at least one defender with the agility and speed to make recovery runs is a non-negotiable for any team hoping to employ man-to-man pressing. Leny Yoro is more suitable yet continues to start at right-back or on the bench.

If Carrick does want this team to get to a point where they can press man-to-man, he needs to select players more suited to that style of football. At the moment his options are limited but he is not helping himself.

Was it down to a lack of effort from Man Utd?

Carrick's other point was that whatever tactics United use, it will not matter if they fail to run back. The lack of effort was clear - as it has been often this season - throughout the match on Tuesday. For Como's second and fourth goals, in particular, United's failure to track back was alarming.

Fernandes, Youri Tielemans and Bryan Mbeumo, United's front three, were walking back as Como scored their second and stood all the way back at the halfway line. Beyond Baleba and Mazraoui, as mentioned above, there was little intensity from anyone else defensively.

Como's fourth goal was most damning. Maguire was out of position and trying to make up the ground, which left the eventual goalscorer Jacobo Ramon with a big space to run. One of Baleba or Diogo Dalot, both of whom are much quicker, had to bust a gut to cover. There was no awareness of the danger from either. Dalot was not in picture by the time Ramon headed in. Baleba, signed to add legs to United's midfield, was overtaken by the 33-year-old Maguire, who turned straight to the £70m signing after the ball went in to lambast him.

It sums up United's issues that a new signing, whose arrival had brought so much hope, has already got into the bad habits of his team-mates after just a handful of appearances.

What was said

"We gave them too much time and space. We didn't press man to man like the staff asked."

"We half pressed man to man in the second half and conceded as a result."

Fernandes' comments were a clear criticism of the coaching staff's approach, while Carrick's response pointed to a failure to execute basic defensive duties. The public disagreement highlights tension within the squad and raises questions about Carrick's tactical instructions and the players' commitment to them.

The numbers

• 600 - passes completed by Como, the most by any opponent against United this season
• 13 - most passes leading to a Como shot, culminating in their fourth goal
• 45 - longest opposition passing sequence leading to a shot against United this season (Fulham, September)
• 5 - times Como won the ball back in the attacking third
• 4 - times United won the ball back in the attacking third
• 7 - United players in the defensive third for Como's opener, compared to Como's 5
• 4 - United players surrounding Nico Paz when he scored the opener
• 15 - minutes after coming on that Carlos Baleba made the error for Como's third goal

Why Carrick's tactics are under scrutiny

The defeat at Como exposed a fundamental flaw in Carrick's attempts to make United more compact. By sitting off and allowing Como to dominate possession, United invited pressure and struggled to win the ball back. However, the numbers show that Como's goals did not come from long passing sequences but from quick, incisive moves that cut through United's midfield and defence with ease.

Carrick's decision to persist with Maguire and Martinez at centre-back when pressing man-to-man is questionable. Neither possesses the agility or speed to recover, and De Ligt, returning from injury, also looked vulnerable. Leny Yoro, who is more suited to that style, continues to be deployed at right-back or on the bench. If Carrick wants to implement a man-to-man press, he must select players capable of executing it.

But tactics alone do not explain the lack of effort. The failure of Fernandes, Tielemans and Mbeumo to track back for Como's second goal, and the slow recovery for the fourth, point to a deeper issue. Carrick's claim that running back is non-negotiable is valid, and the players must take responsibility for their defensive duties.

Talking points

• Fernandes publicly criticised the coaching staff's tactics, undermining Carrick's authority. Is this the sign of a captain fighting for standards or a player deflecting from his own poor performance?
• Carrick's man-to-man pressing requires defenders with pace and agility, yet he continues to pick Maguire and Martinez. Should he alter his selection to suit the system or adapt the system to his players?
• The lack of tracking back from United's front three was alarming. Is this a fitness issue, a tactical instruction, or simply a lack of effort?
• Carlos Baleba, a £70m signing, was criticised by Maguire for not covering for the fourth goal. Is the young midfielder being scapegoated or does he need to adapt faster to the Premier League?

What happens next

Manchester United will look to end their seven-match winless run when they return to Premier League action. Carrick must decide whether to stick with his compact approach or revert to a more aggressive pressing style. The players must respond to Carrick's call for greater effort, starting with their next fixture. With pressure mounting, the United boss needs a result to ease the scrutiny on his tactics and his relationship with his captain.

Frequently asked questions

What did Bruno Fernandes say about Man Utd's tactics after the Como defeat?

Fernandes said United gave Como too much time and space and blamed the staff's decision not to press man to man for the 4-1 Champions League defeat.

How did Michael Carrick respond to Fernandes' comments?

Carrick said United "half pressed man to man" in the second half and conceded as a result, pointing to a lack of effort and failure to run back.

Who was right about Man Utd's tactics against Como?

Both had valid points: Fernandes was right that United gave Como too much space (600 passes), but Carrick was right that a lack of effort and poor individual defending cost United, as shown by the goals conceded.

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