Man Utd: Breaking down their tactics after Bruno Fernandes criticism
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has publicly questioned the team's tactical approach under manager Michael Carrick following a Champions League loss. The critique centers on the team's defensive structure and their reluctance to press opponents man-to-man.
Why it matters
Public tactical disagreements between high-profile players and managers often signal internal instability at major football clubs and influence fan and media sentiment.
Football tactics correspondent Published 22 October 2026 Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes appeared to question their tactical approach after Wednesday's 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como.
"We started off on the wrong foot," the Portuguese said. "They scored very early, [we had] not much pressure on the ball.
"It's a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave some space behind, to try and get the ball in the first moment [by] waiting for them, [giving] them the ball.
"Sometimes when you give too much of the ball to these teams, they get confidence. They have so many bodies behind the ball, they make you run a lot, people get frustrated."
His quotes are tactically dense so warrant breaking down, but what did Fernandes mean, and does he have a point?
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