Manchester United’s struggles have intensified after a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League, with captain Bruno Fernandes openly questioning the coaching staff’s tactical approach and manager Michael Carrick expressing anger over his players’ lack of intensity.

The defeat extended United’s winless run to seven matches across all competitions, raising fresh concerns about the team’s performances, tactical direction and ability to recover from another disappointing spell.

United’s problems have become increasingly visible in recent European outings. After their previous Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, defender Lisandro Martinez publicly criticised the club’s hierarchy, pointing to shortcomings in the transfer window and naming technical director Jason Wilcox.

Fernandes’ comments following the Como defeat have now brought the coaching staff under scrutiny, creating another difficult moment for Carrick as he attempts to restore confidence and consistency within the squad.

Speaking after Wednesday’s match, Fernandes defended his teammates but suggested that United’s approach to pressing opponents allowed Como too much time and space to control possession.

“It’s a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave a little space in behind and try to get the ball in the first moment, to wait for them, to give them the ball,” the Portuguese midfielder told TNT Sports.

He argued that allowing technically strong teams to dominate possession could make United’s players tired and frustrated, affecting their ability to respond effectively when they eventually regained the ball.

Fernandes added that the decision to change the pressing approach rested with the manager and his assistants, insisting that United needed to be more aggressive and take greater risks to disrupt opponents.

“That’s on the manager and on the staff to see it, it’s not on me,” he said.

The criticism came as Como completed 594 passes, their highest total against Manchester United in a Champions League match since Barcelona recorded 725 in April 2019.

Carrick, however, was unwilling to accept tactical decisions as the main explanation for the defeat, arguing that the players’ effort and commitment were equally important.

“We half pressed man-to-man in the second half and ended up conceding a goal from that,” he said. “Whatever tactics you play, if you don’t run back, you ain’t going to win.”

The United manager, who is usually measured in his public comments, delivered a particularly stern assessment of the performance, describing himself as angry and insisting that the team’s display fell below acceptable standards.

“I’m really angry. For us to play in that way is not acceptable,” Carrick said.

He questioned whether his players had brought the necessary motivation, purpose and intensity to the contest, warning that commitment could not depend on the circumstances of a match.

“You can’t turn it on and off and you can’t choose when you want to perform or when you don’t want to perform or when you give absolutely everything or when you maybe don’t,” he said.

Carrick also apologised to the travelling supporters, acknowledging that the manner of the defeat was particularly disappointing.

“It wasn’t just the goals. It was the manner we went about that was the difficult thing to watch,” he added.

The defeat also exposed United’s continuing vulnerability in the opening stages of European matches. They conceded within the first two minutes against both Atletico Madrid and Como, putting themselves under pressure before either game had properly settled.

Beyond the immediate disappointment, Fernandes used the opportunity to call for a change in the club’s mindset, arguing that United must stop relying on memories of past achievements and concentrate on rebuilding their present-day identity.

The midfielder’s remarks were particularly pointed given Carrick’s association with United’s successful era under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, during which the current coach won major honours as a player.

“We’re not in the past, we need to look in the future. We need to make things differently in the present,” Fernandes told Sky Sports.

“We focus too much at looking at what the club did in the past. We’re not that anymore. The club and the players needs to understand that.”

His comments reflect the wider frustration surrounding a club that has struggled to consistently reproduce the success that once made it one of Europe’s dominant sides.

United have endured several difficult seasons, with managerial changes, recruitment concerns and inconsistent performances repeatedly raising questions about the direction of the club. The latest defeat has renewed those concerns and placed further pressure on Carrick and his players to produce an immediate response.

The relationship between the manager and his captain will also attract attention following Fernandes’ public criticism of the tactical plan. While the midfielder framed his comments as a call for a more effective approach, Carrick’s response suggested that he believes individual commitment remains fundamental, regardless of the system employed.

Manchester United now face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday, with the fixture presenting an opportunity to end their winless run and demonstrate that the defeat in Italy can serve as a turning point rather than another setback.

With two defeats in their opening three Champions League matches this season, United need more than an improvement in results. They must also address the questions surrounding their tactical identity, defensive organisation and players’ consistency if they are to restore confidence among supporters.