Man Utd humbled by four-goal Como to pile pressure on Carrick

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter in Como

Manchester United suffered one of the worst European nights in their history against Como to pile the pressure on beleaguered boss Michael Carrick.

Eight days after conceding in the first minute to Atletico Madrid, United's defences were breached after 118 seconds as brilliant Argentina playmaker Nico Paz scored the first of his double.

It meant United became the first English team in history to concede in the first two minutes of consecutive major European matches, something no-one at Old Trafford wants to be associated with.

When United last won the Champions League in 2008, Como were in Serie D. It is a measure of the different directions the respective clubs are heading in that this was about as comprehensive a victory and as one-sided a match as it is possible to imagine.

Paz scored twice, and set up Tasos Douvikas in between, before Jacobo Ramon powered home a header for number four.

At one stage it looked as if United may equal another unwanted record - their heaviest ever European defeat was a 5-0 loss to Portuguese side Sporting in 1964.

Skipper Bruno Fernandes was replaced by Joshua Zirkzee midway through the second half after Matheus Cunha and Andrey Santos - £110m-worth of Ineos signings - were taken off at half-time.

Zirkzee beat the offside trap to calmly score a consolation from fellow substitute Amad Diallo's cross in stoppage time, but that did nothing to improve the mood.

Carrick seemed to ignore his players as he went to acknowledge the United fans, repeatedly holding his hands up in apology, in the manner of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following the 4-1 defeat at Watford in November 2021 - which led to his dismissal 24 hours later.

Carrick says sorry to Man Utd fans and then walks straight off pitch

Paz stuns Man Utd with 'brilliant' early goal

Man Utd player ratings

Starting XI

Senne Lammens: No chance with the opener. Important near-post save on a slippy surface and solid stop after, and that was just before half-time. Goal was breached pretty soon afterwards, no chance with third. 6

Diogo Dalot: As it turned out, the failure to take a chance inside a minute was quite costly. Difficult night even if the major problems were on the other side. 5

Matthijs de Ligt (off 79, Amass): Return after 11 months out got off to a bad start. No opportunity to ease himself in. Como attack too fluid. Bad night. 4

Harry Maguire: Couldn't get to Paz quickly enough to close down the Argentine's shot for the opener. Header wide at the other end. Collectively not good enough. 4

Noussair Mazraoui: Struggled badly, caught on his heels one moment, slipping under pressure the next. Didn't use Cunha as much as Carrick was looking for, left for dead by Como's Lucas da Cunha. Gave the ball away on edge of own area. 3

Mason Mount: Tidy on the ball but exposed defensively. Pre-season link-up with Santos nowhere near as effective here. 5

Andrey Santos (off 46, Baleba): Got away with one late challenge, but first-half yellow card for a second. Being replaced at half-time said it all. 5

Matheus Cunha (off 46, Amad): Given preferred left-sided slot but not in the game enough and no surprise he didn't reappear after the break. 5

Youri Tielemans: Started in advanced role. Linked well with Mbeumo to set up a half-chance and eager to get on the ball and create. Had visitors first shot on target. 6

Bruno Fernandes (off 67, Zirkzee): Another frustrating night for the Man Utd skipper. Couldn't get passing range right even when he had the chance to create. Taken off midway through second half. 4

Bryan Mbeumo (off 86, Lacey): Couldn't convert half-chance from an acute angle and found it difficult to get into the game. 4

Subs:

Amad Diallo (on 46, Cunha): Drew a decent save with 20-yard shot. 5

Carlos Baleba (on 46, Santos): His yellow card, not long after coming on, at least showed he cares. Gave the ball away to the wrong player in Paz. 4

Joshua Zirkzee (on 67, Fernandes): Goal was the one bright spot. 5

Harry Amass (on 79, De Ligt)

Shea Lacey (on 86, Mbeumo)

Subs not used: Darlow, Heaton, Thompson, J Fletcher, T Fletcher, Kamason, Armer.

Player of the match

N. Paz
9.01
10 N. Paz
9.01
9 T. Douvikas
8.44
7 L. da Cunha
8.39
20 M. Baturina
8.23
5 M. Perrone
8.19
4 Jacobo Ramón
8.18
27 Yan Couto
8.14
6 Luis Milla
8.07
2 M. Kempf
8.01
3 Álex Valle
7.90
8 M. Caqueret
7.89
13 A. Dossena
7.78
16 Kaiki
7.78
21 S. Ricci
7.78
28 I. Smolčić
7.75
1 J. Butez
7.64
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