Como 4-1 Man Utd: Nico Paz Masterclass Piles Pressure on Carrick

Photo: Fra Casa, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Two minutes. That is all it took for Como to show Manchester United what kind of night it would be at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. By full time, Cesc Fabregas' side had won 4-1 in the Champions League league phase, Nico Paz had scored twice, and the pressure on Michael Carrick had grown again.

Key points

Como beat Manchester United 4-1 in the Champions League league phase on 21 October 2026.
Nico Paz scored twice and set up another goal.
United were four goals down in a Champions League game for the first time since 1994, according to BBC Sport.
Carrick was without nine senior players because of injuries.
Fans on X turned on director of football Jason Wilcox and the INEOS leadership as well as Carrick.
United host Bournemouth on 25 October and visit Chelsea on 31 October.

Como 4-1 Manchester United: Match Recap

Como took the lead in the 2nd minute. Nico Paz curled in a superb opener after a pass from Lucas da Cunha. United were lucky to trail only 1-0 at half-time. "More organised, more aggressive, more quality. Manchester United are lucky to get in at 1-0, they really are," Joe Cole said on TNT Sports.

Carrick changed things at the break, bringing on Carlos Baleba and Amad Diallo for Andrey Santos and Matheus Cunha. It made no difference. In the 49th minute, Paz slid a pass through for Anastasios Douvikas, who finished it to make it 2-0. Eight minutes later, Paz won the ball from Baleba, ran into the box and scored low into the bottom corner for 3-0.

Centre-back Jacobo Ramón made it 4-0 in the 76th minute, heading in at the back post at the end of a flowing move in open play. Substitute Joshua Zirkzee scored a late consolation in the 91st minute from Amad's chipped pass. VAR checked it for offside and the goal stood.

Goals:

Como: Nico Paz (2', 57'), Anastasios Douvikas (49'), Jacobo Ramón (76')
Manchester United: Joshua Zirkzee (90+1')

Nico Paz: The Star of the Night

The 22-year-old Argentine playmaker scored two goals and set up another. According to TNT Sports, Paz is now the second-youngest South American player to score against Manchester United in the Champions League. Only Lionel Messi, in the 2009 final, was younger.

"[Paz has] been absolutely brilliant in everything that he has done today," Glenn Hoddle said on TNT Sports. The Como crowd gave Paz a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 80th minute.

Big clubs are already watching him. The Evening Standard, citing Spanish outlet ElDesmarque, reports that Arsenal are monitoring Paz and that Real Madrid hold a reported €80m buy-back clause. On social media, a viral post claimed Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher had urged United to sign Paz in January. We could not verify that claim from any reliable source, so treat it as rumour.

Michael Carrick Under Pressure

This defeat makes the situation even worse for Carrick. United came into the game with no win in their last six matches in all competitions (ESPN). They have taken just six points from their first six Premier League games, which BBC Sport and The Telegraph say is the club's worst league start in 40 years, since 1986-87.

The heavy score also made history. BBC Sport noted that United were four goals down in a Champions League match for the first time since a 4-0 defeat by Barcelona in November 1994. TNT Sports reported that United are the first English team to concede inside the first two minutes of consecutive major European matches, after also conceding in the 1st minute against Atlético Madrid.

Before the game, Carrick said he did not need "any reassurance" from the club's hierarchy. Fans following BBC Sport's live coverage were less patient, and many called for him to go. Many of the travelling supporters had left the away end before the final whistle.

The summer signings debate

United spent a reported £155m on midfielders Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba this summer, and Carrick defended that business. "The players we brought in I'm delighted with," he said in September (Reuters via Sportstar). Against Como, Santos was booked and substituted at half-time. Baleba was booked and lost the ball for the third goal.

Injury Crisis and Squad Problems

Carrick was without nine senior players in Italy, according to The Standard and USA Today. Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Benjamin Sesko, Lisandro Martínez, Marcus Rashford, Patrick Dorgu and Manuel Ugarte were injured, Ayden Heaven was ill, and Leny Yoro was suspended after his red card in Madrid.

Carrick said Mainoo is "probably looking at another 10 days or so" and that Shaw will need "a little bit longer than that". With Shaw and Dorgu out, United's decision not to sign a left-back in the summer looks costly. Matthijs de Ligt started his first game since November 2025 and was replaced by young Harry Amass in the 79th minute.

Fabregas' Como: A Club on the Rise

Como qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history last season. They have now beaten RB Leipzig 4-1 and Manchester United 4-1 at home in this competition. "Como have been absolutely brilliant. They have no fear in there," Hoddle said. Before the game, Carrick also praised his opponent: "I have huge respect for what Cesc has done... He has created a really, really good team."

Fans Turn on Wilcox and the INEOS Leadership

This time the anger did not stop at the dugout. Within an hour of the final whistle, "Wilcox" and "Amorim" were trending on X, and many supporters argued that the club's problems start above Carrick, with director of football Jason Wilcox, chief executive Omar Berrada and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. One widely shared post from @RiddyMuppetiers called the run from Erik ten Hag to Ruben Amorim to Carrick "one of the worst run of manager appointments" and said that when Carrick goes, Wilcox should leave too.

The criticism rests on a short and turbulent history:

November 2024: Amorim replaces Ten Hag.
January 2026: Amorim is sacked after 14 months with United sixth in the Premier League. BBC Sport reported that it followed a "particularly hostile" meeting with Wilcox about his tactics, and Amorim had said in public that he wanted to be the manager, not just the coach. Darren Fletcher took temporary charge.
13 January 2026: Carrick is named interim head coach.
May 2026: Carrick is given the job permanently after winning 11 of his 16 games and securing a top-three finish. BBC Sport reported that Wilcox and Berrada recommended him to the owners.
June 2026: Amorim is appointed head coach of AC Milan.

Wilcox, a Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers as a player, rose to academy director at Manchester City before joining United as technical director in April 2024; he later became director of football. Berrada, who also came from City, started as chief executive in July 2024. Between them they chose Carrick and signed this summer's midfielders, which is why many fans now hold them responsible as much as the head coach.

What's Next for Manchester United?

United have no time to recover. They host Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday, 25 October (14:00 UK time), then travel to Chelsea on Saturday, 31 October (12:30 UK time). Aston Villa visit on 7 November. If results don't improve, the questions about Carrick's future will only get louder.

Why it matters

The result deepens United's crisis and makes Carrick's position harder to defend, while Como continue a remarkable first Champions League campaign. Nico Paz's performance will also add to transfer interest from bigger clubs. The next two Premier League games are now critical for United.

FAQ

What was the final score of Como vs Manchester United?

Como won 4-1 in the Champions League league phase on 21 October 2026.

Who scored for Como against Man Utd?

Nico Paz (2', 57'), Anastasios Douvikas (49') and Jacobo Ramón (76'). Joshua Zirkzee scored United's goal (90+1').

Who is Como's manager?

Cesc Fàbregas, the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder.

Who do Manchester United play next?

Bournemouth at home on 25 October, then Chelsea away on 31 October.

Did Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher say United should sign Nico Paz?

That claim went viral on X, but we found no reliable source that confirms it.

Why are fans blaming Jason Wilcox?

Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada recommended Carrick to the owners and oversaw the summer signings. Amorim's exit in January 2026 also followed a reported clash with Wilcox.

Where is Ruben Amorim now?

He has been head coach of AC Milan since June 2026.

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