Como thrash Man United 4-1 in Champions League as pressure mounts on Carrick
- Nico Paz scored twice as Como beat Manchester United 4-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
- Joshua Zirkzee's late goal was United's only reply on a damaging night in Italy.
- Manager Michael Carrick faces fresh questions about his future at Old Trafford.
Manchester United's Champions League campaign hit a new low on Wednesday night as they lost 4-1 away to Como, heaping more pressure on manager Michael Carrick.
Argentina midfielder Nico Paz scored twice and set up another goal for the Italian side. Tasos Douvikas and Jacobo Ramon also found the net for Como, while Joshua Zirkzee scored a late consolation for United in stoppage time.
Paz opened the scoring after just 118 seconds. According to the reports, that made United the first English club to concede inside the opening two minutes of consecutive major European matches, coming eight days after they conceded in the first minute against Atletico Madrid.
Como stayed on top after the break. Douvikas doubled the lead, Paz struck again, and Ramon headed in a fourth to put the hosts 4-0 up. United's heaviest European defeat remains a 5-0 loss to Sporting of Portugal in 1964.
Carrick under scrutiny
Carrick made changes at half-time, taking off Matheus Cunha and Andrey Santos, two signings reported to have cost a combined £110 million under INEOS. Captain Bruno Fernandes was also withdrawn midway through the second half, with Zirkzee coming on in his place.
Zirkzee eventually beat the offside trap to convert a cross from fellow substitute Amad Diallo, but the goal did little to soften the night for the travelling supporters.
At full-time, Carrick raised his hands to the United fans in what looked like an apology. Leadership noted the gesture echoed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reaction after a 4-1 defeat at Watford in November 2021, a result that was followed by his dismissal the next day.
The result underlines how far the two clubs have travelled in opposite directions. When United last won the Champions League in 2008, Como were playing in Italy's fourth tier, Serie D.
For United, the questions are now about defensive organisation, consistency and whether Carrick keeps his job. The sources did not say whether the club has made any decision on his future.
