Cunha clashes with Carrick off camera as United slump to seventh game without a win

Manchester United’s internal fractures deepened on Wednesday as a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como at Old Trafford extended their winless run to seven matches and sparked a reported confrontation between Matheus Cunha and head coach Michael Carrick that was not captured by television cameras.

The Sun’s Samuel Luckhurst reported that Carrick and Cunha had a ‘relatively robust’ exchange during the match, with the Brazilian forward substituted at half-time and replaced by Amad. Carlos Baleba also came on at the start of the second half as United attempted to claw back a deficit that had already grown beyond reach.

Como, managed by Cesc Fabregas, were ruthless from the first whistle. Nico Paz opened the scoring with a curling effort inside two minutes, and the visitors never relinquished control. Paz added a second in the second half, with Anastasios Douvikas also finding the net during an eight-minute spell that effectively ended the contest.

The off-camera incident was not the only sign of unrest. Bruno Fernandes, speaking after the final whistle, openly challenged the club’s tactical setup under Carrick. “It’s a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, wait for them, but sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence,” the captain said.

Fernandes added: “It’s not the first time, we started on the wrong foot, and they scored very early. Not much pressure on the ball, not many good movements with the ball, not many things going our way. Conceding early makes us go into the game with a mood of defeat — it’s difficult to get out of that.”

The public criticism from Fernandes follows comments made a week earlier by Lisandro Martinez, who had taken aim at the club’s lack of squad reinforcements and the Old Trafford hierarchy. The accumulation of dissenting voices from senior players raises serious questions about Carrick’s authority in the dressing room.

United were also fortunate not to be further behind at the interval, with Como creating several additional chances before the break. The defeat leaves the club in a precarious position in the Champions League and intensifies scrutiny on Carrick’s management at one of the most turbulent periods in the club’s recent history.