Cesc Fabregas revealed he told his Como players to take their foot off the gas during their 4-1 victory over Manchester United, as Michael Carrick endured another humiliating defeat.
Man United travelled to Italy hoping to respond to last week’s 2-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid but instead produced another dismal display, leaving Carrick facing mounting pressure.
Nico Paz opened the scoring after just 118 seconds, earning United an unwanted record as the first English side to concede inside the opening two minutes of consecutive major European matches.
The Argentina international continued to torment the visitors, scoring again and setting up Tasos Douvikas before Jacobo Ramon powered home a header to complete Como’s four-goal rout.
With United struggling to contain Fabregas’s impressive side, the hosts could have inflicted even more pain on the Red Devils.
The Como manager suggested his team deliberately eased off after establishing their commanding advantage.
“I told my players to slow down at 4-0,” Fabregas revealed, underlining the gulf between the two teams on a night when Como dominated proceedings.
Man Utd were in danger of matching their heaviest-ever European defeat, a 5-0 loss to Sporting in 1964, before Joshua Zirkzee scored a late consolation from Amad Diallo’s cross.
Carrick had already withdrawn Matheus Cunha and Andrey Santos at half-time, while Zirkzee replaced captain Bruno Fernandes during the second half as United struggled to find a response.
The visitors’ performance prompted a blunt assessment from their manager, who admitted his side had fallen well short of the standards required.
Carrick subsequently acknowledged the travelling supporters, repeatedly raising his hands in apology as he walked towards them.
It didn’t help that his captain seemed to question his tactics after the game, just a week after Lisandro Martinez’s unwarranted outburst against the club hierarchy.
Carrick must find a way to turn the tide when the Red Devils take on Bournemouth this weekend at Old Trafford, or he could be out of a job soon.