Michael Carrick's Manchester United were ripped apart in a dreadful 4-1 defeat at Como in the Champions League, as their miserable run of results stretched to seven without a win. The pressure continues to pile up on Carrick and this United side as their start to the season lurches from bad to worse - and on Wednesday night they were humbled by a Como team which delivered more intensity and quality in Italy. The first attribute should be a non-negotiable but, despite United's application being in the spotlight, they were once again outworked by their opposition.
Static in midfield, allowing Como players to run off them, losing markers... this was a shocking show of United's big failings out of possession. The tone was set just two minutes in when Man Utd went behind early on - again. They are the first English side ever to concede in back-to-back Champions League games so soon and never got to grips with Cesc Fabregas' impressively coached team.
Nico Paz brought the class for the hosts. The talented Argentina international stuck the opener into the top corner when Harry Maguire gave him too much space and then slotted in a third after catching Carlos Baleba in possession. Paz set up another Como goal, too, playing in Tasos Douvikas, who ran away from a disoriented Matthijs de Ligt to find the net inside four minutes of the second half.
This was De Ligt's first start in 325 days due to back problems and came due to a wider spate of injuries at the club. But excuses for this United performance may wear thin quickly for the travelling support who stood in the pouring rain to watch this dismantling. United's own star, Bruno Fernandes, was anonymous again, with just one goal involvement now in his past nine appearances for the club.
His head-shaking summed up the mood before a sweeping Como fourth, which saw unmarked centre-back Jacobo Ramon head in, underline the vast gap between the sides on the night. Joshua Zirkzee's injury-time goal was of little consolation. With just three points from their first three games, United have an uphill battle to make it out of the league phase in this competition.
More immediately they are in desperate need of a better performance and win at home to Bournemouth on Sunday in the Premier League, live on Sky Sports. "They've got to start winning matches. The problem with Manchester United is we still live in the age of when it was Rooney, Ronaldo and people like that.
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