​Manchester Evening News: After the Heavy Defeat, Carrick Held Out Both Hands in Apology — He Ignored the Players and Blamed Them for the Shame

October 22 – Manchester Evening News published an article discussing Manchester United's heavy Champions League defeat to Como yesterday.

Como played with more energy and greater purpose. Senne Lammens had to smother another effort from Paz after one sharp break, while Anastasios Douvikas fired over from 12 yards following a more patient build-up.

In the 33rd minute, the away end erupted into a chorus of "Attack, attack, attack." The pause in the rain did nothing to improve the mood of the 700 supporters behind the goal.

Carrick's challenge at half-time was deciding which players to substitute. Andrey Santos and Matheus Cunha became the scapegoats, replaced by Carlos Baleba and Amad. It made no difference.

Just three and a half minutes into the second half, United were two goals down. The ease with which Como swept from one end of the pitch to the other was alarming. Baleba, Noussair Mazraoui, Mason Mount, and Matthijs de Ligt were all beaten for thought or pace, Paz slipped the ball through, and Douvikas dinked it over Lammens.

The rain stopped, but the floodgates had opened. Baleba's pass was intercepted by Paz, who surged forward and fired low past Lammens. Jacopo Ramon headed in a fourth with United's defenders nowhere to be seen. In between, Bruno Fernandes was substituted; he shook his head, glared daggers at the bench, and walked slowly back to his seat.

He was not the only one to leave early. At the final whistle, only around 100 of the 700 United fans remained to see Joshua Zirkzee's consolation goal.

At full time, Carrick walked straight to the away end and held out both hands in apology. He ignored every player and then headed down the tunnel. You don't need to be a body language expert to realise he blamed those players for the humiliation.

Source: Manchester Evening News