An evening on the shores of Lake Como turned into humiliation for Manchester United: Michael Carrick's side fell to 1:4 Champions League debutants, and this defeat was not merely another setback but a signal of a deep crisis.
The Red Devils have now gone seven matches in a row without a win across all competitions — their worst run since 2015. Nico Paz scored a brace, and Como under the guidance of Cesc Fàbregas showed how modern football punishes a lack of structure and character.
The start of the match set the tone for the entire encounter: already in the second minute, the Argentine Paz, taking advantage of freedom on the flank, elegantly curled the ball into the far corner. United responded with rare chances, but the team clearly could not cope with the Italians' pressing and movement.
After the break the situation worsened. Paz assisted Duvikas, then scored the second goal himself, capitalising on an error by Baleba. The fourth goal was headed in by Ramón. Only in stoppage time did Zirkzee reduce the deficit, but it did not change the picture of the rout.
United's problem is not only tactical. Captain Bruno Fernandes openly criticised the game plan after the match, which added tension to the dressing room. Carrick, according to sources, remains at the helm for now, but the club has already begun searching for possible replacements.
This result is not an accident but a symptom: Como, risen from the lower divisions, are showing how fresh ideas and discipline can crush even three-time Champions League winners. For United, the question is acute: can the team halt their winless run already in the upcoming match against Bournemouth?
