Fernandes questions United tactics as Carrick defends approach after Como defeat
Bruno Fernandes suggested United's passive pressing invited Como's confidence in a 4-1 Champions League loss, while Michael Carrick argued execution rather than system was the issue.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes raised doubts about the team's tactical setup following a 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como, saying United "started off on the wrong foot" and allowed the Italian side too much possession. Fernandes described a staff decision not to press man-to-man, instead waiting to win the ball back, and warned that giving opponents so much of the ball builds their confidence.
Since Michael Carrick took over as manager in January, United have largely defended in a zonal 4-2-4 or 4-4-2 shape that presses only in moments. The idea is to hold the shape deeper, let opposition defenders have time on the ball and set traps, with four narrow, high attackers positioned to punish turnovers. It worked at times last season but has been less effective this term.
Carrick pushed back when Fernandes' comments were put to him, noting United half-pressed man-to-man in the second half and conceded from it, and stressing that running is essential regardless of system. The article notes the shape's trade-offs: an extra defender and attacks funnelled wide, but vulnerability when United do commit to a full press and lose individual duels, as seen for Como's second goal.
Lisandro Martinez has separately spoken about the need to evolve, saying teams now know United's patterns in detail. Pre-season and the Atletico Madrid defeat exposed similar problems, with wide centre-backs drawing out United's wingers and freeing full-backs or wing-backs in space, forcing teammates into long covering runs.
The piece identifies an apparent disconnect between Fernandes' view and the coaching staff's messaging, which it says makes any defensive plan hard to execute. It concludes that both men have a point, and that a middle-ground solution between the captain's call for braver high pressing and Carrick's structured approach is the likely path if United are to win regularly.
