According to a report by Metro on Thursday, October 22, 2026, responding to the criticism leveled at Manchester United following their humiliating 4-1 Champions League loss to Como, Michael Carrick admitted that he was furious with the performance of several of his players.

United were defeated by Como, who are making their Champions League debut, and Carrick is now under even more scrutiny for his team's dismal start to the season.

The loss has compounded Manchester United's recent inconsistency, and captain Bruno Fernandes voiced his frustration with the team's tendency to dwell on its past triumphs rather than its future prospects following the game.

But Carrick was not happy with his players' performance and made it plain that no strategy would be successful if they didn't work hard on the field.

He explained that they let a goal slip through because they "half-pressed man-to-man" in the second half. No matter what strategy or tactics you employ, the key to success is running—not just running, but running forward and back as well.

I wouldn't say everyone, but I thought our approach tonight was unacceptable, regardless of whether we won or lost. In any case, I felt compelled to express my sympathies to the fans.

After giving up four goals to a team playing in their first tournament, the United manager seems to think the players should shoulder the blame for their performance rather than pointing fingers at the tactics of the team.

The manager and captain are increasingly at odds, which could lead to more chaos at Old Trafford if the team's performance doesn't improve soon. Carrick, meanwhile, is under more pressure than ever to boost morale and win back the support of the fans.