Manchester United 'not special anymore' after 4-1 Como defeat
Manchester United's 4-1 defeat to Como has been described as the latest chapter in the club's downward trajectory. Sky Sports News Chief Correspondent Kaveh Solhekol says the problems go far beyond the pitch and that United are no longer special.
- Match: Manchester United 1-4 Como
- Competition: Pre-season friendly (venue: Italy)
- Key claim: United's problems stem from two decades of instability and mismanagement under the Glazer family
- Next fixture: Bournemouth (home) – described as a 50/50 game
- Manager: Michael Carrick under pressure after the defeat
What was said
"I don't have a problem with what Bruno Fernandes said. I think it's quite refreshing. I understand the perspective of it should be kept inside the dressing room. I think these players are just so frustrated with the way the club is being run."
"Lisandro Martinez in his comments was saying there is something wrong upstairs. Especially in the transfer window. Fernandes was letting fans know that there was something wrong in the dressing room."
"The big story is, Manchester United have been falling apart since the Glazers bought the club. This is just a symptom of what is going wrong."
"One thing I will say is, how many of these players are good enough to play for Manchester United? How many would get into the starting XI's of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City?"
"The only positives at Manchester United is that their revenue is at record levels even though they didn't play in Europe last season. Apart from that, there are absolutely no positives whatsoever."
"Being owned by the Glazer family has cost Manchester United more than £2bn over the last 20 years. That is during a period of time where others are putting money into their clubs."
"I even heard from United fans over the past few days that 'it would be good if we were to get relegated. If we were relegated, the owners could sell the club and we can start again.' That is how bad things are."
"They are not special any more. Brentford are a better club. Brighton are a better club. You are surprised when Manchester United win, not when they lose."
"You can bring Sir Alex Ferguson back, and nothing would change. United would not win the title again."
"He was the one person 21 years ago who could've come out and maybe stopped the Glazers buying Manchester United in a leveraged buy out. He didn't do that, he went along with it."
"I'm worried about Carrick. I'm worried about his body language as well. I didn't see that much fight in him. There's obviously a problem with his relationship with the players."
Solhekol's verdict is scathing and wide-ranging. He frames the 4-1 loss not as an isolated embarrassment but as the natural consequence of ownership that has drained more than £2bn from the club while rivals invested.
He defends Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez for speaking out, arguing that players are entitled to opinions and that their frustration reflects a dressing room that has lost faith in the hierarchy.
The numbers
- £2bn+ – amount the Glazer ownership has cost Manchester United over the last 20 years
- 90 days – maximum time Sir Jim Ratcliffe is allowed in the UK per year (he lives in Monaco)
- 40% – proportion of staff made redundant
- Record levels – Manchester United's revenue, despite no European football last season
Why the Glazers are the root cause
Solhekol is unambiguous: the ownership model is the problem. The Glazer family's leveraged buyout loaded debt onto a previously debt-free club, and the family live in the United States. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have tried their best, but Ratcliffe's Monaco residency limits his time in the country.
The chief correspondent argues that nothing will change unless new owners pay off the debt. He points to the redundancies and ticket pricing as evidence that the club's soul has been eroded.
He even recounts fans telling him relegation might be preferable if it forced a sale. "That is how bad things are," he says.
Carrick's future and the immediate concern
Solhekol worries about Michael Carrick's demeanour. He saw little fight in the manager's body language after the Como defeat and suspects a fractured relationship with the players. He would not be surprised if Carrick lost his job or walked away.
The pundit contrasts Carrick's flat press conference with the anger he would expect from other managers. He suggests Carrick may feel let down by the summer transfer window and that the fight has gone out of him.
Talking points
- Solhekol says United are "not special anymore" and that Brentford and Brighton are better clubs. Is that fair, or a step too far?
- Should Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez have kept their frustrations private, or was going public the right call?
- If Sir Alex Ferguson couldn't fix this, what does that say about the scale of the rebuild required?
- Would relegation actually force the Glazers out, or would it simply deepen the crisis?
What happens next
Manchester United host Bournemouth at the weekend. Solhekol calls it a 50/50 game and would not be surprised if Bournemouth win. Defeat would intensify scrutiny on Carrick and the ownership before the January transfer window.
Frequently asked questions
What did Kaveh Solhekol say about Manchester United's owners?
He said the Glazer family's ownership has cost the club more than £2bn over 20 years and that nothing will change unless new owners pay off the debt.
Is Michael Carrick under pressure as Manchester United manager?
Yes. Solhekol said he is worried about Carrick's body language and would not be surprised if he lost his job or resigned.
What did Bruno Fernandes say after the Como defeat?
Fernandes criticised the coaches and suggested something is wrong in the dressing room, according to Solhekol, who defended the player's right to speak out.
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