Manchester United

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We asked for your views on where you stand on Michael Carrick, Bruno Fernandes' comments and whether the Manchester United boss deserves more time or not, with Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann among the names interested in the job at Old Trafford.

Here are some of your comments:

Andrew: Carrick is the best manager for United. I'm disappointed by the team's performance and by Fernandes' comments. Fernandes has shown no leadership in blaming the coaching staff for the performance. Fernandes and the rest of the squad need to take a long hard look at themselves.

Mark: Another change of manager will not work. We will potentially have a flurry of results because of a new manager bounce, but realistically it's the players. I have supported United for 30-plus years and in the past four weeks, three players have spoken out about performances. All comments should be said behind closed doors. It proves there are failures at all levels of management. This is not going to get better with yet another manager change.

Geoff: Bruno has never been captain material, especially Manchester United captain material. He is quickly becoming the Ronaldo-type figure who thinks he's bigger than the club. He is a corrosive influence and should be shipped out as soon as possible.

Steve: It's a disgrace. Another former player that has United flowing through his veins is being cast aside. I feel for Carrick. At the moment, I feel like United don't deserve him. Seriously, though, with all the great managers that have gone the same way before, will Howe, Conte or Nagelsmann really want this poisoned chalice? As a United fan of many years, I'm sick of it all.

David: Doesn't really matter who we choose as we will just repeat the same cycle of incompetence, negligence and downright apathy again.

Kevin: It would be easy to be distracted from the real issues at United by concentrating on Fernandes said this, Martinez said that, Carrick did the other etc. Until the ownership of the club changes and the debt placed upon us is cleared, nothing will change. It's so sad after watching my team for over 60 years that our reputation is in tatters.

Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith are joined by editor of United We Stand Andy Mitten and Jay Motty from the Stretford Paddock to reflect on Manchester United's disastrous night in Como.

How are Manchester United fans feeling following the 4-1 defeat to Cesc Fabregas' side? Was Bruno Fernandes right to speak out in the way he did? And can Michael Carrick survive this?

They also discuss who the fanbase feel is the right person to rescue them from this situation... if anyone.

Listen to the podcast by pressing the play button above, or on BBC Sounds here. You can also watch on BBC iPlayer here and on the BBC Football YouTube channel here, external

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Former Arsenal and England defender Matt Upson has been analysing Bruno Fernandes' "damaging" comments after Manchester United's 4-1 defeat by Como, adding that there is "something clearly wrong" at Old Trafford.

Michael Carrick's side are on a run of seven games without victory, having won against Sabah in the Champions League on 10 September.

The Red Devils have a tough run-in to the next international break, with fixtures including trips to Chelsea and Liverpool domestically and Roma at home in the Champions League, and captain Fernandes added to the club's woes when he spoke to TNT Sports post-match on Wednesday.

"It is a decision from the staff not to press man-to-man and to sometimes leave space behind to try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give too much of the ball to these teams they get confidence," he said.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast about the situation, Upson said: "It is just open season at Manchester United at the minute, and that is a very difficult thing to deal with.

"Can you be successful on the field when all of this is going on? Probably not. I don't think it is possible so I wasn't surprised to see that they struggled against Como, a team who are on the complete opposite side of the scale to them.

"There is something clearly wrong if a player feels the need to criticise the tactics in that way. It is just so damaging."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Manchester United have already started the process of identifying possible replacements for Michael Carrick, with Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte and Julian Naglesmann all understood to have their eyes on the Old Trafford job.

Sources say Carrick is carrying on as normal and has not been made aware of any imminent change following Wednesday's humiliating 4-1 defeat by Italian side Como. He is expected to be in charge for Sunday's Premier League game against Bournemouth.

Accusations of a lack of passion, desire and intensity have dogged United all season, having won just two of their matches. Results and confidence have all dipped.

Mixed into that negativity has come explosive post-match comments from defender Lisandro Martinez, attacking the recruitment, and captain Bruno Fernandes, attacking Carrick and his tactics.

The proximity of United's next Premier League game doesn't make immediate change straightforward, even if that was the thinking of senior club figures.

That does not necessarily mean that Carrick is safe, of course and there remains major uncertainty over his future.

However, there is also an appreciation in some quarters of the progress he and his squad made last season, and a view that he should be given more time to turn things around.

For weeks, managers - in and out of work - have grown aware the United job may become available.

Howe, for example, is available and would be considered. Sources have indicated that the former Newcastle boss is open to returning to management with Manchester United after leaving St James' Park in the close season.

Former Chelsea boss Conte and ex-Germany manager Naglesmann, who are also out of work, are also interested.

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery and Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler's stock is high with those in the corridors of power at Old Trafford - but extracting them away from their respective clubs would be difficult.

Where do you stand on Carrick and Fernandes' comments? Does the United boss deserve more time or is this the right time to dismiss him?

And what do you make of the names linked with potentially replacing him?

Get in touch with your views here

And read more about the situation at United here

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Michael Carrick returned to Manchester United in January, initially as manager until the end of the season. After steering United to a third-placed finish and Champions League qualification, he was handed a two-year contract in May.

Wednesday's defeat at Como was his 28th game in charge (not including his stint as caretaker boss in 2021) and his win rate is exactly 50% - 14 wins, seven draws, seven defeats.

But last season's record is in stark contrast to that in the current campaign. United won 12 of their 17 games under Carrick last season, with three draws and two defeats, giving him a win rate of 70.6% in 2025-26.

This season they have won two out of 11 games, with four draws and five defeats for a win rate of 18.2% in 2026-27.

Carrick is the eighth permanent/interim manager to have had at least five games in charge of Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired in 2013 with a United win rate of 59.7%.

Carrick's win rate of 50% has recently dipped below many of his predecessors, leaving just interim boss Ralf Rangnick and Ruben Amorim with a worse record.

• Jose Mourinho (May 2016-Dec 2018) - 58.3%

• Erik ten Hag (May 2022-Oct 2024) - 54.7%

• Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Dec 2018-Nov 2021) - 54.2%

• David Moyes (July 2013-April 2014) - 52.9%

• Louis van Gaal (July 2014-May 2016) - 52.4%

• Michael Carrick (Jan 2026-current) - 50%

• Ruben Amorim (Nov 2024-Jan 2026) - 38.1%

• Ralf Rangnick (Dec 2021-May 2022) - 37.9%

We asked for your views on Wednesday's defeat against Como in the Champions League.

Here are some of your comments:

Yousef: Losing matches happens, but losing because you didn't bother to run or fight is what hurts. The performance against Como was lifeless. Too many players are just jogging around, losing 50-50 challenges, and showing no urgency. Technical issues aside, the bare minimum requirement is effort, and we aren't even getting that.

Stephen: An absolute disgrace. Shambolic tactics and a total lack of effort. Rotten from the top down. A new low every week.

Tony: Another nightmare performance, unfortunately, the norm. I actually feel sorry for Michael Carrick, if he has any self-respect he'll wave United goodbye. The players just can't be bothered, so why should he? The whole senior squad is a disgrace. Maybe the kids might save the season, that's if they themselves aren't looking to go elsewhere through lack of pride.

Roger: No game plan, effort or knowledge of each other. It's like 11 strangers met on a pitch for the first time. These are good players who seem to be unable to play together. No passion, but it does not help having no striker on the pitch. Players playing to fill gaps. Is this really Manchester United today? Shameful.

Michael: Michael Carrick is so obviously out of his depth and unable to get the team operating as a unit. Has to go and the sooner the better.

Richard: Awful display, one of the worst I've seen from United. However, we can't keep churning through managers. Sir Alex was one game away from the boot and became the most successful and unquestionably, the greatest manager of all time. Give Carrick some time, give the team some time.

After winning 12 of his 17 games in charge last season to guide United back into the Champions League after a two-year absence, Michael Carrick was given a two-year contract.

However, as happened with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer five years ago, the new campaign has unravelled spectacularly and they are 13th in the Premier League, three points clear of bottom club Sunderland.

Although they recovered from their shock opening-day defeat to newly promoted Hull by coming from behind to beat Ipswich the following week, United have not won in the Premier League since. Their only other success in 11 games in all competitions came against Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK in the Champions League.

Their latest loss meant they have now gone seven games without a win, their worst run since they went eight without a victory under Louis van Gaal between 25 November and 28 December 2015.

United flew straight back to Manchester after the game.

It remains to be seen whether the position around Carrick changes before the Bournemouth game. However, United supporters sang against the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the shambolic evening unravelled.

Both Carrick and sporting director Jason Wilcox have been absolved of partial blame for the club's plight by some; Carrick because he was let down badly in the summer transfer window, when the club signed three midfielders, but failed to bring in competition for Luke Shaw at left-back and Benjamin Sesko in attack. Wilcox too, because he had to work to a budget set by those above him, including chief executive Omar Berrada.

"There was a lot going through my mind watching that," admitted Carrick, who won five Premier League titles and the Champions League during his United playing career. "It was tough to watch.

"It wasn't just the goals, if I'm totally honest. It was was the manner and way we played at times.

"I'm giving my absolute best all the time, I care about it. My whole life is wrapped around it. It might go well, it might not go so well, but I I genuinely give everything that I possibly can."

Kasper Schmeichel
Former Premier League goalkeeper

I have been in situations myself where you feel, as a player, the management or the club isn't aligned from top to bottom.

You kind of feel lonely out there, and I think that's what Bruno Fernandes is doing, he's reacting to maybe feeling alone out there.

I watched him in the game, he's trying to press, he turns around and there wasn't anybody following him up. His reaction, his body language wasn't great when those situations occurred. That's frustration.

But, I also do think that, given this last week and what's happened, he probably should not be saying these things because it's only going to add to the problems.

With experience, you learn that you need to keep these things in-house.

It's a problem, with everything that happened during the week.

Michael Carrick didn't need this, the club didn't need this. It's exposing all of the issues that are at Manchester United.

It's very plain to see that there are loads of issues, but you need to be fixing them, you need to be having meetings within the club, which I'm sure that they are, but it's obviously not resolved because there are some frustrations there which haven't been resolved.

It's just translating on to the pitch.

Read more on Bruno Fernandes' comments about Man Utd's tactics here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes turned on head coach Michael Carrick following one of the most humiliating nights in the club's European history.

A 4-1 Champions League hammering at Como led to Carrick fielding questions about his future.

He apologised to the 700 travelling fans, having ignored his beaten players after the final whistle to march across the pitch and repeatedly hold his hands up - in a manner similar to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following a 4-1 defeat at Watford in November 2021 which led to his dismissal as United boss 24 hours later.

However, Fernandes - widely accepted as a football obsessive who watches games regularly as he understands the tactical side as well as any player in the United squad - inflicted more damage when he spoke to TNT Sports.

"It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence," he told TNT Sports.

Asked directly whether Carrick got his tactics wrong, Fernandes added: "That's on the manager and staff to see, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable."

Told of Fernandes' comments in his post-match press conference, Carrick offered a curt response: "There's a little bit of 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 aren't going to win."

Manchester United are among several European clubs showing interest in FC Twente's highly rated Dutch centre-back Ruud Nijstad, 18. (Athletic - subscription required), external

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After Manchester United's 4-1 defeat against Seria A side, Como, Michael Carrick answered key topics on his side's performance in his news conference, including whether the players are still playing for him.

Does Carrick think he was let down by his players?

"I don't take it personally. It's everything wrapped around the football club.

"What you do, your behaviour, and how you perform, and how you go about it. More importantly, it is the responsibility of representing this football club.

"It's it's about the football club, you know, and what we represent and the supporters.

"It wasn't just the goals, it was the manner and the way we played at times. The way we went about it was the difficult thing to watch for me."

Is he thinking about quitting?

"No. It's not about me right now and my feelings in that regard. It's more of as a team and as a football club, what we want to look like, what we should look like.

"And as I said, the results can come and go at times, but you have got to do it in a certain way and that wasn't it."

Are the United players playing for Carrick?

"It's not about playing for me, it's about playing for this football club.

"I'm responsible for the football club and the supporters.

"I'm giving my best, my absolute best all the time. I care about it.

"My whole life's wrapped around it. Listen, it might go well, it might not go so well, but I genuinely give everything I can.

"It's really not about me and the relationship, it's about what we all give; players, staff, for this football club."

Get in touch with your views on United's performance here

Michael Carrick seemed to ignore his players as he went to acknowledge the United fans, repeatedly holding his hands up in apology, in the manner of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following the 4-1 defeat at Watford in November 2021 - which led to his dismissal 24 hours later.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Carrick said: "More than disappointing. Everybody, to be honest, everyone has got to take responsibility for that.

"100% I will take responsibility for the overall team and the performance. That is where it stops, it stops with me. I am absolutely fine with that and I accept that totally.

"But as a supporter of this football club for so long, and I care so much about this football club, to see it perform like that is unacceptable.

"There are all sorts of elements to a performance. I will definitely look at what we have done. The motivation, the intention, the purpose, and the intensity of the game of football you have to bring. We didn't bring that today.

"We have shown it for six or seven months, but you cannot turn it on and off. You cannot choose when you want to perform or when you don't want to perform. So, until you do that, you're not going to win football matches.

"I care an unbelievable amount about the supporters. You know, they're the heartbeat of this football club and always will be.

"For them to travel, I can only apologise for the performance.

"Everything they have done to get here tonight, to have to watch a performance like that, I totally feel for them. There is no excuses at all. It is just not acceptable."

"Tonight is not about me, it is not about me. It is about digesting the game to be honest and how it went. I think that's the most important thing right now."

Read Simon's report

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