Worst Decisions Made By Michael Carrick Cost Manchester United In The Match Against Como

According to a report by Flashscore on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Manchester United endured a difficult first half against Como in their UEFA Champions League encounter, with Nico Paz scoring in the second minute to give the Italian side an early advantage. The disappointing start put the visitors under immediate pressure, while Michael Carrick’s tactical decisions raised concerns about the team’s ability to control the game and create clear goalscoring opportunities.

One of the major decisions that appeared to affect Manchester United was Carrick’s midfield arrangement. The players struggled to provide the right balance between defensive stability and attacking creativity, allowing Como to exploit spaces in the middle of the pitch. United found it difficult to disrupt their opponents’ rhythm and establish control of the encounter.

Carrick needed to select a midfield combination capable of protecting the defence while providing adequate support for the attackers. Como’s early goal exposed United’s weaknesses and forced the visitors to chase the game almost immediately, making it even more important for the manager to get his tactical approach right.

Another questionable decision was leaving Amad Diallo on the bench. The Ivorian winger possesses the pace, dribbling ability and creativity to trouble opposition defenders. With Manchester United struggling to make an impact in the attacking areas, Amad’s presence could have provided the spark needed to challenge Como’s defensive organisation.

Starting Amad would have offered United another attacking option on the right flank. His ability to take on defenders, create space and deliver dangerous passes could have made the visitors more threatening in the final third. Instead, Manchester United struggled to produce consistent attacking movements during the opening 45 minutes.

The decision to play Bruno Fernandes on the flank rather than in his preferred central attacking midfield position was another tactical choice that deserved criticism. The Portuguese captain is one of United’s most creative players, with the vision, passing range and technical quality to unlock opposing defences.

Deploying Fernandes out wide appeared to limit his influence in central areas, where he could have connected the midfield with the attack more effectively. Allowing him to operate behind the striker might have improved United’s attacking transitions and increased their chances of creating clear-cut opportunities.

Carrick also needed to ensure that his players maintained better defensive organisation and concentration. Although Nico Paz’s early strike cannot be blamed entirely on the manager, conceding so quickly placed Manchester United in a difficult position and highlighted the importance of starting the match with greater defensive discipline.

Overall, leaving Amad Diallo on the bench and deploying Bruno Fernandes on the flank were two decisions that raised serious questions about Carrick’s tactical approach. With Manchester United struggling to establish control and create meaningful chances before halftime, the manager needed to reconsider his approach to give the team a better chance of producing an improved performance in the second half.

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