Man United humbled in UCL rout at Italian upstarts Como - ESPN

Manchester United's struggling start to the season hit a new low on Wednesday with a 4-1 thrashing at Italian upstarts Como in the Champions League, to pile further pressure on coach Michael Carrick.

The under-fire United coach had said that Sunday's purposeful point at rivals Leeds marked a «fresh start» after Lisandro Martínez highlighted the club's shortcomings in a set of stunning interviews last week.

But, looking to end a run of six games without a win, Carrick's side got off to the worst possible start in the idyllic surroundings on the shores of Lake Como, when Nico Paz scored inside two minutes. The goal meant that United became the first English club in Champions League history to concede a goal in the first two minutes in back-to-back matches, following last week's loss to Atlético Madrid.

Further goals from Anastasios Douvikas, Paz again and Jacobo Ramón in the second half had the three-time winners set to match their worst ever loss in the history of Europe's premier competition before Joshua Zirkzee grabbed a consolation goal in stoppage time.

It is still just the sixth ever loss by three-plus goals in Manchester United's Champions League history and the first since April 2019 against Barcelona in the quarterfinals.

«It was more than disappointing,» Carrick told TNT Sports. «I think everybody has got to take responsibility for that. I 100% take responsibility for the overall team and the performance — that's where it stops. It stops with me and I'm absolutely fine with that. I accept that totally.

»But as a supporter of this football club for so long, and I care a lot about this football club, to see a performance like that is unacceptable, I have to say."

United were already in turmoil, with Martinez last