Michael Carrick's Struggles at Manchester United After Humiliating Loss to Como
Michael Carrick faces a critical moment in his managerial stint at Manchester United following a crushing 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League. This loss marks another low point in a season filled with disappointing results and damages the club’s proud European reputation.
The defeat has cast serious doubt on Carrick’s future as United boss. The 45-year-old, once a celebrated United midfielder, appeared to acknowledge the gravity of the situation when he apologized to traveling fans after the match near Lake Como.
Where Things Went Wrong for Carric
Carrick’s tactics this season have been notably more passive than during his interim tenure last year. Data from MarkStats reveals that last season, United ranked sixth in the Premier League for opponent buildup pass completion outside the final third, indicating effective pressure on opposing teams early in their attacks.
This season, that figure has worsened to 83.1%, dropping them to 14th in the league. It suggests United now allow opponents to build up play with less resistance. Even more concerning is their inability to force turnovers in dangerous areas; United averages just 16.7 opposition turnovers per game in the attacking third, one of the worst rates among Europe's top leagues.
The team fails to disrupt possession effectively across all zones, conceding too much control to their rivals.
Defensive Woes
United’s defensive record this season is poor. They've managed only one clean sheet, which came against Azerbaijan's Sabah in the Champions League opener. Across seven Premier League matches, they've conceded 10 goals without keeping a single shutout. On six occasions, they've allowed two or more goals in all competitions combined.
Although United limit shots against them—ranking fourth-fewest in the league—the quality of chances they concede remains high, and opponents are capitalizing ruthlessly. The four goals conceded at Como underscore how fragile the defense has become.
Thin Squad Depth
The lack of squad depth complicates Carrick’s task. Injuries to key players like Manuel Ugarte (ACL tear), Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, and others have left the bench weak. Against Como, several substitutes such as Karl Darlow, Tom Heaton, and others didn't even enter the pitch, while fringe players were brought on but failed to make an impact.
New signings Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans started but struggled to impress, with Tielemans drawing criticism for underwhelming displays.
Managing this squad is tough, especially now with the added strain of European fixtures. Carrick had some success last season when the schedule was lighter, but this campaign demands more from the squad than it can deliver.
Possible Successors if Carrick Departs
If Carrick is dismissed soon—perhaps after upcoming Premier League matches against Bournemouth and Chelsea—several candidates have been mentioned as potential replacements.
- Eddie Howe is a leading name, currently unattached after leaving Newcastle United, though no official talks have surfaced.
- Antonio Conte, who previously coached in the Premier League but left Tottenham abruptly due to homesickness.
- Julian Nagelsmann, former Germany national team coach, though he lacks experience outside Germany.
- Kieran McKenna, with limited managerial experience at Ipswich Town and no previous top-club roles.
Others like Gareth Southgate have expressed disinterest in club management, while pulling Fabian Hurzeler from Brighton midseason seems unlikely given their strong start.
