Michael Carrick slams Man United players and hits back at criticism from Bruno Fernandes

According to a report by Manchester Evening News on Wednesday October 21, 2026, Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has criticised his players following their humiliating 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League while responding to criticism from captain Bruno Fernandes over the team’s tactical approach.

United suffered another disappointing result on Wednesday night, with their performance raising fresh concerns about the team’s mentality, commitment and ability to compete at the highest level.

The defeat left Carrick visibly frustrated, and the United boss did not hide his disappointment when speaking to the media after the game. He also apologised to the travelling supporters who witnessed the team’s disappointing display.

Carrick admitted that the manner of the performance was particularly difficult to accept, insisting that losing matches was part of football but failing to meet the club’s standards was unacceptable.

“We might win, we might lose, but the way we went about it tonight, I wouldn’t say everyone, but the way we went about it in some ways tonight wasn’t acceptable. And I just wanted to let the fans know that I feel for them, for sure,” Carrick said.

He added that his frustration was not simply about the goals United conceded but also about the overall performance and the attitude displayed by his players.

“It wasn’t just the goals, if I’m totally honest. It was the manner and the way we played at times, in the way we went about it, that was the difficult thing to watch for me,” he explained.

Carrick’s comments came after Fernandes questioned the tactical approach adopted by the manager and his coaching staff during the defeat.

The United captain expressed concerns about the team’s setup in a post-match television interview, prompting Carrick to defend his decisions and suggest that the players’ lack of effort had contributed significantly to the result.

United went into half-time trailing 1-0, with Carrick making two substitutions in an attempt to change the course of the game. However, his adjustments failed to produce the desired response, as Como took further control after the break before Joshua Zirkzee scored a late consolation.

Responding to the criticism of his tactics, Carrick explained that United had attempted to press their opponents differently in the second half but still conceded a goal.

“We actually half-pressed man-to-man the second half and then conceded a goal from that,” he said.

The United boss then emphasised that tactical instructions would count for little if the players failed to demonstrate the required work rate.

“And there’s a little bit on whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don’t run, and you don’t run forward, and you don’t run back, you ain’t going to win,” Carrick added.

His response suggested that he believes the team’s problems extend beyond tactical decisions, with the players also needing to take responsibility for their performances on the pitch.

Carrick was subsequently asked whether his players were still playing for him, given the disappointing result and the criticism coming from the captain.

However, the 45-year-old insisted that the issue was not about personal loyalty but about the responsibility that comes with representing Manchester United. “It’s not about playing for me, it’s about playing for this football club,” he said.

Sports_Center001 feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com