Carrick’s job uncertain after Manchester United beaten 4-1 by Como in Champions League defeat

Michael Carrick’s future as Manchester United manager is in doubt after his side were thrashed 4-1 by Como in a Champions League match on Wednesday night, a result that left the manager apologising to travelling supporters and answering public criticism from captain Bruno Fernandes.

The loss came in United’s third group game of the Champions League and leaves the club with only two wins from 11 matches this season; they sit 13th in the Premier League and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup last month. The 45-year-old Carrick said he had not contemplated his own position and apologised to fans after the defeat; around 700 United supporters had travelled to the match and about 200 remained at the end when Carrick approached them, noticeably ignoring his players.

Como scored inside two minutes through Nico Paz and extended their lead with a Tasos Douvikas strike and Paz’s second by the 57th minute, before Jacobo Ramón added a fourth on 76 minutes; Joshua Zirkzee scored for the visitors in added time. The 4-1 scoreline completed a torrid night for United, who were unable to mount a sustained response after the early setback.

Carrick said on the state of his role: "Listen, I’ve not given my own position any thought," adding, "[My thoughts are] for the supporters – I was one of them watching that and I wasn’t happy at all." When asked if he could walk away he replied, "No. It’s not about me right now and my feelings in that regard."

Bruno Fernandes publicly challenged the team’s game plan during the match, criticising a decision by staff not to press. "It’s a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, wait for them, but sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence," he said. Asked whether Carrick’s tactics were wrong, Fernandes added: "That’s on the manager and staff to see, not me."

Carrick responded to Fernandes’s comments by outlining the team’s attempt to change approach and stressing effort as decisive factors: "We actually half-pressed man-to-man the second half and then conceded a goal from that," he said. "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." He described his mood after the match: "I’m bitterly disappointed, I’m frustrated; more than frustrated, I’m really angry. But you’ve got to move on. You got to deal with what’s next and see what that looks like." He finished by saying, "I have to apologise to the supporters."

Before Bournemouth’s visit to Old Trafford on Sunday, Carrick’s future may be discussed by Jason Wilcox, the director of football, Omar Berrada, the chief executive, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the co-owner who controls sporting policy.