Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has admitted that his team lacked belief after suffering a painful 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The loss extended United’s winless run to seven games following another poor display. They conceded just two minutes into the match and struggled to recover.
“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.”
The Portuguese midfielder said Nico Paz’s early goal hurt United’s confidence and made it difficult for them to take control. Paz scored again after Tasos Douvikas had made it 2-0, while Jacobo Ramon added another goal.
Joshua Zirkzee scored in stoppage time to spare United from suffering their joint-heaviest defeat in Champions League history.
“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.”
Fernandes also criticised United’s passive defending, saying Como had too much time and space to control the game.
However, when asked if his comments were aimed at manager Carrick’s tactics, he refused to blame him.
“That’s on the manager and staff to see, not me,” he said. “Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable.
