MANCHESTER: Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes questioned his team’s tactical approach after being thrashed 1-4 by Como in the Champions League early this morning, describing the players as having lost their spirit after conceding early.

Como opened the scoring as early as the second minute before United continued to struggle throughout the match, with Joshua Zirkzee’s consolation goal in injury time only reducing the margin of defeat.

Fernandes said that United failed to put enough pressure on the opponent and lacked movement without the ball, thus allowing Como to dominate the game.

“We started with the wrong foot and they scored too early. The pressure on the players with the ball was not enough and the movement without the ball was not very good either.

“The decision not to apply one-on-one pressure was the coaching staff’s choice.

“There are times when we leave space behind and wait for them to bring the ball, but when you give space to a team like this, they will become more confident,” he told TNT Sports.

When asked whether his statement was a criticism of manager Michael Carrick’s tactics, Fernandes said the matter needed to be assessed by the manager and coaching staff.

“Sometimes we need to be braver when under pressure, take the risk of putting on high pressure and making the opponent uncomfortable,” he said.

The defeat has added pressure on Carrick as United have now failed to record a win in seven consecutive matches.

Carrick admitted his team’s performance was unacceptable and insisted that everyone must take responsibility, including himself.

“As a supporter of this club, seeing a performance like that is unacceptable.

“I am responsible for the team and the overall performance. I also have to apologise for the performance,” he said.

The 45-year-old manager also admitted that United failed to show the intensity, motivation and purpose of the game that they should have.

United now have three points after three Champions League matches and will face AS Roma in their next match.

LONDON: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick saw the 1-1 draw against Leeds United as a new beginning for his team, despite their ongoing winless streak.

United failed to end their winless run after Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised in the second half, cancelling out Bryan Mbeumo’s opening goal in the Premier League (EPL) at Elland Road last night.

The result means United have now failed to win in six consecutive matches across all competitions, adding to the pressure on Carrick, who is already facing criticism.

However, the manager saw positive developments in his team’s performance, five days after a 0-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League that prompted Lisandro Martinez to criticize the club’s management over a lack of investment in the summer transfer window.

“We don’t want to get too carried away because we didn’t win this game. However, I think if we continue to do the right things for the right reasons, eventually we will get the results we deserve.

“To be honest, today feels like a new beginning in terms of accepting the current situation and trying to change it,” said Carrick.

He also praised the players’ commitment, which he described as showing their determination to rise up and help each other for the sake of the team.

“It’s clear that the players are so eager to do their best for each other and they appreciate the opportunity to represent this club. I’ve seen real determination among the players over the past few days,” he said.

United now travel to Como early Thursday morning, looking for their first win since their Champions League opener against Sabah last month, before hosting Bournemouth in the Premier League.

The club are currently in 13th place in the league, with their lowest winning record at this stage of a top-flight campaign since the 1986-87 season.

Carrick admitted he was aware that United’s current position was far from satisfactory, but believed his team could still turn things around.

“We don’t think everything is perfect. I’m realistic about the situation.

“There are times when we struggle and need to find a way to overcome it.

“I understand that this situation does not look very good from a certain perspective, but I do not doubt our ability to record a string of positive results,” he said.

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) manager Luis Enrique believes Manchester City deserved to win the trophy they won and should be allowed to keep it, despite the English club facing possible punishment after being found to have breached the Premier League’s financial regulations.

The Premier League has accused City of using “fake” commercial contracts as part of a plan to boost revenue and reduce reported costs by more than 900 million pounds.

City, which has denied any wrongdoing and has appealed the decision, faces possible punishments ranging from fines and points deductions to relegation to a lower division and the stripping of the title it won.

Asked about the decision ahead of PSG’s Champions League clash with City, Luis Enrique said: “The first thing when you hear the news is that it’s a shock. But I think we have to respect the process and wait for the final decision.

“There are authorities responsible for making that decision and we have to wait. However, if I’m just talking about football and what I’ve seen on the pitch, Manchester City definitely deserve to win the trophy.

“I like the way they play football. After that, we have to wait for the final result and there is nothing else that can be done.

“I think trophies won on the pitch should remain with the team that won them, and they deserve it. I hope they can avoid that punishment.”

City will welcome PSG to the Etihad Stadium early tomorrow morning.

LIVERPOOL: Manchester City’s first match since being embroiled in controversy for breaching Premier League (EPL) financial regulations ended in a draw when they defeated Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield.

Enzo Maresca’s squad once again widened the three-point gap at the top of the league table with a spirited performance, although the club is now facing a ‘season in turmoil’ while awaiting the outcome of an appeal regarding the potential for severe punishment including expulsion or points deduction.

Liverpool fans clearly wasted no time in expressing their dissatisfaction before and throughout the match with repeated chants of ‘fraudsters’.

However, City, who consistently denied the accusation, responded to all provocations on the pitch with tactical discipline that restrained the home team, before tearing apart The Reds’ defence after Liverpool played with 10 men following Ryan Gravenberch’s red card.

Erling Haaland broke the deadlock with a stunning strike in the 65th minute, before substitute Jeremy Doku scored the second goal three minutes later with a beautiful curling shot into the top corner.

City’s dominance was sealed in the final minutes when Rayan Cherki displayed a stunning solo run to make it 3-0, comfortably defeating the home side.

LONDON: Liverpool have reportedly contacted Kylian Mbappe’s agent about bringing the Real Madrid striker to Anfield in 2027.

According to Spanish journalist Francois Gallardo, Liverpool have held talks with Mbappe’s mother and agent, Fayza Lamari, in recent weeks.

Mbappe joined Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer of 2024 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

The French striker has now scored 94 goals and provided 14 assists in 111 appearances for the Spanish giants in all competitions.

However, despite his impressive scoring record, Mbappe has yet to help Real Madrid win LaLiga or the Champions League in the last two seasons.

In fact, questions have arisen regarding Mbappe’s compatibility with Vinicius Junior in Real Madrid’s starting line-up.

Mbappe, who helped France win the 2018 World Cup, still has a contract with Real Madrid until the summer of 2029.

However, Gallardo claims Liverpool want to sign the 27-year-old in 2027.

“Several Premier League clubs are interested in Kylian Mbappe, but the player’s priority is Liverpool.

“They have been in contact with Fayza Lamari in recent weeks. The player does not feel loved or supported in the Real Madrid dressing room and the situation makes her uncomfortable.

“The transfer fee is estimated to be between 200 million and 250 million euros,” he told a news portal in Spain.

If Liverpool pay Real Madrid 250 million euros for Mbappe, that amount would make him the most expensive player in football history.

The current world transfer record still belongs to Neymar after the Brazilian player moved from Barcelona to PSG in 2017 for 222 million euros.

Gallardo also claimed that Mbappe has already decided to leave Real Madrid in the summer of 2027 and the club will not stop him.

“World exclusive, Kylian Mbappe is angry and disappointed with Real Madrid. He has already decided to leave the club in the summer of 2027 and Real Madrid will not stop him. His next destination is the English Premier League,” he wrote on the X account.

Gallardo also claimed that Real Madrid are planning to sign Bayern Munich player Michael Oliseh if Mbappe leaves the club to join Liverpool in 2027.