Manchester United suffered a 4-1 Champions League defeat against Como on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, extending their winless streak to seven matches across all competitions. Nico Paz scored twice and assisted another goal as the Italian club dominated the visitors at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. United manager Michael Carrick apologized to supporters afterward and accepted responsibility for the performance.
Como, playing in their first Champions League campaign, produced one of the most important victories in the club's history. Tasos Douvikas and Jacobo Ramón added goals for Cesc Fàbregas's team, while substitute Joshua Zirkzee scored United's only goal in stoppage time.
The defeat intensified pressure on Carrick following another disappointing European performance. United entered the match hoping to recover from a 2-0 loss against Atlético Madrid, but instead suffered their worst European defeat since 1994.
Nico Paz Gives Como an Immediate Advantage
United nearly made the perfect start when Diogo Dalot found space inside Como's penalty area. The defender recovered from a poor first touch but curled his shot wide of the far post.
Just seconds later, the hosts punished that missed opportunity. Paz received the ball near the edge of United's penalty area and curled a left-footed shot into the corner, opening the scoring in the second minute.
The goal exposed familiar defensive problems for Carrick's team. Harry Maguire gave Paz enough room to shoot, while United's midfield failed to close down the Argentine midfielder before he delivered his finish.
According to Opta, United became the first English club to concede within the opening two minutes of consecutive major European matches. Pablo Barrios had scored in the opening minute of Atlético Madrid's victory over United the previous week.
Como continued controlling possession and moving the ball effectively through midfield. Fàbregas's players repeatedly found space behind United's defensive line, forcing goalkeeper Senne Lammens into action.
Douvikas threatened to extend the advantage before halftime, creating problems for Matthijs de Ligt on his return from a lengthy injury absence. The Dutch defender was making his first appearance in 325 days after recovering from back surgery.
Carrick made four changes from the team that had drawn 1-1 with Leeds United on Sunday. De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha entered the starting lineup, but the adjustments failed to provide the defensive stability United needed.
Second-Half Collapse Leaves United Four Goals Behind
Carrick attempted to change the match at halftime by introducing Carlos Baleba and Amad Diallo. The substitutions were intended to give United greater energy and attacking options, but Como quickly strengthened their advantage.
In the 49th minute, Paz supplied Douvikas with a pass inside United's penalty area. The Greek striker took advantage of De Ligt losing his footing and finished past Lammens to make the score 2-0.
United struggled to respond before another defensive mistake handed Como a third goal. Baleba misplaced a pass near the right touchline, allowing Paz to collect possession and advance toward the penalty area.
The Argentine midfielder carried the ball forward before directing another left-footed shot into the far corner in the 57th minute. His second goal effectively ended United's hopes of recovering from the deficit.
Paz's performance was especially significant because he combined individual finishing with creative passing. His two goals and assist made him the central figure in a match that exposed United's problems both with and without possession.
Como completed their scoring in the 76th minute following another well-constructed attack. Substitute Kaiki Bruno advanced down the left and delivered a cross for Ramón, who headed into the net from close range.
United eventually found a consolation goal in the first minute of stoppage time. Amad crossed from the right, allowing Zirkzee to control the ball and finish through the legs of goalkeeper Jean Butez. A video assistant referee review confirmed the goal.
The late strike prevented United from suffering a four-goal defeat, but it did little to change the assessment of their performance. Como had already established a decisive advantage and secured three valuable Champions League points.
Carrick Accepts Responsibility for Defeat
Carrick was visibly frustrated after the final whistle and acknowledged that his team had fallen well below the standards expected at Manchester United. The former United midfielder took responsibility rather than blaming individual players.
"It was more than disappointing," Carrick told TNT Sports. He said everyone involved needed to accept responsibility and acknowledged that the overall performance was ultimately his responsibility.
Carrick described the display as unacceptable, particularly because United lacked the intensity and determination required to compete effectively. He also apologized to supporters who had traveled to Italy to watch the match.
The manager's comments reflected the growing pressure surrounding his position. United's seven-match winless streak has included poor performances in both domestic and European competitions, raising concerns about the team's direction.
Carrick became United's permanent manager in January 2026 after previously serving in an interim capacity. His history as a successful player at Old Trafford initially provided optimism, but recent results have placed his management under increasing scrutiny.
The defeat also followed criticism of United's recruitment decisions from defender Lisandro Martínez. The Argentina international had questioned the club's summer transfer activity, adding to concerns about decisions made by the football department.
Bruno Fernandes Questions United's Approach
United captain Bruno Fernandes also expressed frustration with the team's performance. He said the players had failed to apply sufficient pressure and allowed Como too much time and space in possession.
Fernandes suggested that the team's tactical approach contributed to the difficulties. Speaking to TNT Sports, he explained that United had been instructed not to press opponents individually, leaving opportunities for Como to move the ball forward.
However, Fernandes stopped short of directly blaming Carrick when questioned about those decisions. He said responsibility for reviewing the tactical approach belonged to the coaching staff.
The midfielder also criticized United's reaction after conceding the opening goal. He believed the early setback affected the players' confidence and prevented them from responding with the urgency required.
Youri Tielemans offered a similarly critical assessment. Speaking after the match, the United midfielder acknowledged that Como had outplayed his team for much of the contest and said the players had performed poorly in several important areas.
The comments from senior players underscored the frustration inside the squad. United had struggled to create clear opportunities despite introducing additional attacking players during the second half.
Champions League Defeat Adds to United's Problems
The result left Manchester United with three points from their opening three Champions League matches. They dropped to 20th in the 36-team league-phase standings, while Como climbed to ninth.
Under the current competition format, the top eight clubs advance directly to the round of 16. Teams finishing ninth through 24th must compete in knockout playoffs, meaning United still have opportunities to improve their position.
However, their recent European record provides little encouragement. United have won only one of their last 11 away matches in the Champions League and have conceded six goals across their last two games in the competition.
For Como, the victory represented another major achievement under Fàbregas. The club was competing in Italy's fourth division only seven years ago, making its progress into Europe's leading club competition particularly notable.
United now face a quick return to domestic action, with Bournemouth scheduled to visit Old Trafford on Sunday, October 25. They will then host Roma in their next Champions League fixture.
Carrick must prepare his players for those matches while addressing the mistakes exposed in Italy. With seven consecutive games without a victory, the club faces growing pressure to reverse its results and restore confidence among supporters.