Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has openly questioned the team's tactical approach following an embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League. The midfielder hinted that the coaching staff's decision to abandon aggressive pressing allowed the Italian side to gain confidence.
The Mancunians found themselves a goal down within just two minutes, as Nico Pass took advantage of defensive uncertainty, setting the tone for a disastrous evening. Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Fernandes acknowledged that this was not the first time they had started poorly:
It's obviously not the first time this has happened. We again started on the wrong foot. There was little pressure on the ball and not enough good movement off it. A lot is going wrong when we kick off like this.
Conceding so early makes us feel as though we're already doomed to lose.
When asked about Manchester United's tactical strategy, the team captain added:
Those are questions for the coach and the staff, not for me. Sometimes you need to be bolder under pressure, take risks, press high, and make your opponents feel uncomfortable.
Fernandes continued:
This is a decision from the staff — to not press man-to-man across the pitch, to leave space behind, wait for the opponent, and cede possession. But sometimes, when you give the ball away to teams like this, they gain confidence.
Such comments from the player are bound to intensify the already colossal pressure on head coach Michael Carrick as the club looks to recover from one of its most painful European defeats.
