Bruno Fernandes questions Manchester United approach after 4-1 defeat by Como

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes criticised the team’s approach after their 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como, saying the visitors failed to apply enough pressure or create effective movement.

United conceded after only two minutes and were unable to recover as their winless run extended to seven matches following another unconvincing display.

“We started on the wrong foot and they scored very early,” Fernandes told TNT Sports. “Not much pressure on the ball, not many good movements with the ball, not many things going our way.”

Nico Paz opened the scoring for Como on Wednesday before Tasos Douvikas made it 2-0. Paz added a second and Jacobo Ramon completed the home side’s four-goal haul.

Joshua Zirkzee scored in stoppage time, but his effort only prevented United from suffering their joint-heaviest Champions League defeat.

Fernandes said conceding so soon had affected United’s mentality and made it difficult for them to take control of the match.

“Conceding early makes us go into the game with a mood of defeat,” said Fernandes. “It’s difficult to get out of that, trying to be brave, to have the ball and make something happen.

“If we are not able to do that, it is going to be very difficult to get out of this situation.”

The Portugal midfielder also pointed to United’s lack of aggression without the ball, arguing that Como were given too much time and space to control the game.

Asked whether that amounted to criticism of manager Michael Carrick’s tactics, Fernandes replied: “That’s on the manager and staff to see, not me.

“Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable.”

Fernandes’ comments follow public criticism from another United player.

Defender Lisandro Martinez questioned the club’s hierarchy after last week’s 2-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid, saying Carrick had been left with an understrength squad. Martinez later apologised for those remarks.

Youri Tielemans, who started in midfield alongside Fernandes in Italy, said United’s performance had fallen well below the required standard.

“We got outplayed for most of the game so it was a very disappointing night,” said Tielemans.

“You can be good tactically but if the effort is not good (then it will not work) and vice versa. You need to be good at everything and tonight we were poor.”