Carrick Slams ‘Unacceptable’ Man United Performance in Como Humiliation: ‘No Excuses’

FolioPitch.com – 22 October 2026 | Michael Carrick did not mince words after Manchester United‘s chastening 4-1 Champions League defeat away to Como on Tuesday night, as Carrick slams unacceptable Man United performance against Como No excuses and insists the buck stops with him. The United head coach watched his side concede four unanswered goals at the Stadio Sinigaglia before Joshua Zirkzee pulled one back in injury time, and he later described the display as “more than disappointing” and “unacceptable” for a club of United’s stature.

Goals from Nico Paz (two), Tasos Douvikas and Jacobo Ramon had Como 4-0 up and in complete control, and the statistics painted a grim picture for the visitors. United were second-best in possession, passes made, passes completed, pass accuracy, shots and shots on target, undermining Carrick’s pre-match demand that his players take control of the game. For a coach who had spoken confidently about imposing United’s authority, the reality was a sobering lesson in European football‘s unforgiving nature.

“It was more than disappointing,” Carrick said after the full-time whistle. “I think everybody has got to take responsibility for that. I 100% take responsibility for the overall team and the performance – that’s where it stops. It stops with me and I’m absolutely fine with that. I accept that totally. But as a supporter of this football club for so long, to see a performance like that is unacceptable, I have to say.”

The former United midfielder, who has long been admired for his professionalism and connection with the club’s fanbase, made a point of apologising to the travelling supporters who had stayed until the end. Many had packed up and left once the fourth goal went in, a sight that clearly hurt a man who knows exactly what following United entails. “I care an unbelievable amount about the supporters,” Carrick added. “They are the heartbeat of this football club and they always will be. For them to travel, I had to apologise for the performance. To have to watch a performance like that, I totally feel for them. There are no excuses at all. It is not acceptable.”

The result leaves United with serious questions to answer in the Champions League league phase, and it was another reminder that Carrick slams unacceptable Man United performance against Como No excuses is not merely a headline but a reflection of the standards he expects. When asked whether he retains the backing of the Old Trafford board, Carrick deflected the focus away from himself. “It’s not about me,” he replied. “It’s about digesting the game and how it went. That is the most important thing right now.”

That response may buy him time, but it will not quiet the scrutiny. United’s supporters have grown weary of false dawns, and a 4-1 reverse in Italy – however impressive Como’s attacking display – will be filed among the club’s more embarrassing continental nights. Carrick’s honesty was refreshing, yet honesty alone does not repair a defence that was carved open repeatedly or a midfield that was overrun with alarming ease.

What made the defeat particularly jarring was the contrast between intent and execution. Carrick had demanded control, yet Como dictated the tempo, moved the ball with purpose and punished United’s lapses with ruthless efficiency. Nico Paz’s double underlined the young forward’s growing reputation, while Douvikas and Ramon added to a scoreline that flattered the hosts only in the sense that it could have been greater. United’s late consolation through Zirkzee was little more than a footnote, and it did nothing to mask the broader malaise.

For Carrick, the challenge now is to turn contrition into correction. The club’s hierarchy will want to see a response, and the players owe their manager and their fans a performance of genuine conviction in the coming fixtures. As Carrick slams unacceptable Man United performance against Como No excuses, the message to his squad is clear: responsibility must be shared, standards must be restored, and the excuses must stop. The travelling fans who remained in the stands deserved better, and so does a club whose identity is built on resilience rather than capitulation.

Ultimately, this was a night when United’s shortcomings were laid bare under the Italian lights. Carrick has accepted his share of the blame, but the road back begins with the players proving they are willing to shoulder theirs. Until they do, the phrase Carrick slams unacceptable Man United performance against Como No excuses will linger as a reminder of how far the club still has to travel.