Manchester United Have Bigger Problems Than Just Losing Football Matches
3 min readFootball$0.45 pending
I honestly don't even know where to start with Manchester United after watching them fall to a 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League. I sometimes wonder what is really happening at this club. This is a team with a rich history and millions of supporters around the world, yet things keep going from bad to worse.
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What surprised me most about this defeat was not even the four goals Como scored. It was what happened after the match, when Bruno Fernandes and Michael Carrick appeared to have different explanations for the team's poor performance.
Fernandes pointed towards the coaching staff's decision not to press Como aggressively enough, while Carrick questioned the players' motivation and intensity. To be honest, I can understand both sides, and I believe there is something important to learn from their reactions.
From Bruno's point of view, allowing an opponent too much time on the ball can make life difficult. When you give a team the freedom to pass comfortably and control the game, they gradually grow in confidence. Before you know it, your players are chasing shadows and struggling to get the ball back.
However, I also understand Carrick's frustration. No matter how good or bad a manager's tactics might be, players still have responsibilities on the pitch. You cannot expect to win football matches when players are not tracking their opponents, making the necessary runs or fighting for every ball.
For me, this is where Manchester United's real problem begins. When things go wrong, everyone seems to have something to say, but the important question is whether they can work together to find a solution.
Seven games without a win across all competitions is a worrying situation for a club like Manchester United. I know every team experiences difficult periods, but there comes a time when people have to stop making excuses and start taking responsibility.
Another thing that bothers me is how easily United have been conceding early goals. Imagine travelling for a big European match and finding yourself under pressure almost immediately. It changes the entire approach to the game and gives the opposition the confidence to attack even more. They concede under a minute against Athletico Madrid last week and under two minutes against Como.
I honestly don't think changing the manager alone would automatically solve these problems. The players also need to look at themselves, while the coaching staff must find a system that suits the team and brings out the best in the players.
Their next match against Bournemouth will be another test. I will be interested to see whether United can respond or whether the same problems will follow them into another game.
Football is a game where things can change quickly, but improvement must start somewhere. Even though I don't see them improve soon.
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