Worst Players For Manchester United In The First Half Against Como

According to a report by Manchester Evening News on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Manchester United produced another disappointing first-half performance in the UEFA Champions League as Italian side Como secured a 1-0 advantage at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.

Nico Paz handed the hosts an early lead after scoring in the second minute, leaving Michael Carrick’s side struggling to recover against a confident and organised opposition.

Despite having several experienced players on the pitch, Manchester United struggled with possession, defensive organisation and attacking creativity.

Here are five Manchester United players whose performances raised concerns during the opening 45 minutes.

The Portuguese defender was arguably one of Manchester United’s most disappointing performers during the first half.

Dalot struggled defensively against Como’s attacking players, particularly Martin Baturina, who managed to get past him during an attacking move.

His distribution was equally disappointing. In the 30th minute, Dalot intercepted possession but immediately wasted the opportunity with a misplaced pass intended for Bryan Mbeumo.

The full-back also failed to make the most of an early attacking opportunity, adding to his frustrating performance.

Mazraoui endured a difficult opening period as Como repeatedly applied pressure on Manchester United’s defensive players.

The Moroccan international looked uncomfortable when attempting to play out from the back.

One particularly worrying moment came when Nico Paz and Lucas da Cunha pressed him aggressively, forcing him into an error that allowed Como to regain possession in a dangerous area.

His inability to remain composed under pressure contributed to United’s difficulties in building attacks from defence.

The Brazilian midfielder struggled to establish control in the middle of the pitch as Como dominated possession during significant periods of the first half.

Santos also received a yellow card in the 25th minute after bringing down Nico Paz, who had successfully evaded his initial challenge.

His booking placed additional pressure on Manchester United’s midfield, particularly with Como continuing to attack through central areas.

Manchester United’s captain also experienced a frustrating opening half.

Although Fernandes attempted to influence proceedings, he struggled to find sufficient space against Como’s organised midfield.

In the 27th minute, the Portuguese midfielder lost possession after receiving a difficult pass while surrounded by opposition players.

His frustration was evident as United continued to struggle with their attacking combinations.

However, Fernandes was not solely responsible for the team’s attacking difficulties, with poor service and limited movement contributing to his struggles.

Mbeumo also endured a relatively quiet first half as Manchester United struggled to create meaningful goalscoring opportunities.

The Cameroon international found himself isolated for significant periods, with the visitors unable to establish consistent attacking pressure.

His movement offered United potential attacking options, but the team’s poor distribution prevented him from receiving possession regularly in dangerous positions.

As a result, Mbeumo struggled to make the attacking impact expected of him.

Overall, Manchester United’s disappointing opening-half performance highlighted several concerns for Michael Carrick.

Dalot and Mazraoui appeared particularly vulnerable defensively, while Santos struggled with discipline in midfield.

Fernandes and Mbeumo also found it difficult to influence attacking proceedings.

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