Tactical Tug-of-War: Carrick and Fernandes Disagree After Como Defeat
Manchester United's winless streak has now stretched to seven matches after a disheartening 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League. In the aftermath, captain Bruno Fernandes didn't hold back, openly challenging head coach Michael Carrick's tactical decisions.
Fernandes pointed out that United allowed Como too much time and space on the ball, a direct result of the coaching staff opting against a man-to-man press. This tactical choice seemed to backfire, as the team struggled to contain Como's attacking play.
"It’s a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave a little space in behind," Fernandes said. "But when you give too much ball to these teams, they gain confidence and make you run a lot, leading to frustration. By the time you get the ball back, your legs and brain are too tired to execute properly."
The stats back up Fernandes' claims, with Como completing a staggering 600 passes—the highest by any team against United this season. This performance highlights a worrying trend, as the last three games saw opponents dominate possession, coinciding with Carrick's attempts to tighten up defensively.
Despite the ongoing winless run, there were glimpses of defensive improvement in previous fixtures against Leeds and Atletico Madrid. However, the same could not be said for the match in Italy, where Como capitalized on United's disarray.
Interestingly, Como didn’t rely on lengthy passing sequences to create chances. Their most passes leading to a shot amounted to just 13, culminating in their fourth goal. This efficiency illustrated their ability to pick their moments well against a disorganized United side.
Fernandes also pointed to fatigue as a factor, arguing that chasing the ball for long stretches wore down his teammates. However, Como scored their first two goals within the first five minutes of each half, challenging the notion that exhaustion influenced those critical moments.
The first goal came in the second minute, with United’s defense failing to close down Nico Paz, who found himself in a dangerous position. Despite having seven players back, United couldn’t prevent Paz from curling a shot into the net.
Adding to the frustration, the error leading to Como's third goal came from Carlos Baleba, who had barely been on the pitch for 15 minutes. It raises the question of how fatigued he could have been at that point.
In a post-match press conference, Carrick responded to Fernandes' criticism, indicating that the team “half pressed man-to-man” in the second half but still conceded. He emphasized that no matter the tactics, a lack of effort in tracking back would lead to failure.
As for Como's second goal, United's defensive shape was more of a mid-block, but the execution faltered. The press was supposed to be activated as Como approached the midfield, yet it fell flat as players failed to apply pressure effectively.
Carrick's strategy this season has seen him stick with Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez as his central defenders, despite their challenges in a man-to-man pressing system. This has raised eyebrows, especially when considering the need for agile defenders capable of making recovery runs.
Carrick's decision-making will be crucial moving forward. If he aims to implement a pressing style, he must select players who fit that mold. Currently, his options appear limited, and the team’s effort levels need to improve significantly.
Ultimately, Carrick’s assertion rings true: regardless of the tactical approach, if players don’t put in the work to track back, victory will remain out of reach. The signs of a lackluster effort were evident throughout the match, especially leading up to Como's second and fourth goals.
