Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes appeared to question the tactical decisions of manager Michael Carrick following a 4-1 Champions League defeat against Como. The Portuguese international lamented that United started on the wrong foot after conceding an early goal, explaining that the tactical setup deliberately instructed the squad to hold off on man-to-man pressing. Fernandes noted that the staff made the choice to concede space and wait for the opposition, warning that allowing quality teams prolonged possession builds their confidence, forces United to run excessively, and ultimately breeds frustration among players.
Carrick has largely relied on a zonal 4-2-4 or 4-4-2 defensive shape since taking charge as manager in January, prioritizing deep traps over instant pressing across the pitch. The tactical blueprint aims to position four attackers narrow and high to score rapidly from turnovers, a strategy that famously succeeded during Carrick's caretaker stint when Bryan Mbeumo scored in a 3-2 victory at Arsenal. However, this same setup has looked vulnerable this season, displaying clear weaknesses as early as pre-season against Ruben Amorim's AC Milan and during United's recent 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid.
The defensive scheme mirrors a wider tactical shift across English football, with defender Lisandro Martinez recently warning after the Atletico defeat that teams cannot simply repeat what worked in the prior campaign because opponents learn every detail. A similar 4-2-4 defensive system was deployed by Pep Guardiola and Pep Lijnders during Manchester City's Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal. Yet, when Enzo Maresca used it in August's Community Shield defeat to Mikel Arteta's Gunners, it was swiftly abandoned in favor of a man-to-man defensive approach.
When questioned regarding Fernandes' remarks, Carrick strongly defended his philosophy, pointing out that United adopted a half-pressed, man-to-man setup in the second half against Como and promptly conceded a goal. That second goal unfolded when Como's midfielder rolled Kobbie Mainoo, Noussair Mazraoui reacted slowly to his marker, and United were left exposed in a central two-against-two situation. Stressing that a 4-2-4 provides an extra player in the backline to shepherd attacks out wide, Carrick maintained that regardless of the tactical formation deployed, matches cannot be won without running forward and tracking back.