Cesc Fàbregas has admitted he instructed his Como players to ease off after they raced into a 4-0 lead against Manchester United.

The Como boss claims to regret that decision after the Red Devils scored a late consolation.

Speaking after one of the most remarkable results in Como’s history, the former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder revealed he prioritised energy conservation with a Serie A fixture against Sassuolo looming.

“I regret the last ten minutes because I was the one who told the team to slow down the tempo because there’s another match and at 4-0 we could manage things a little,” Fàbregas said.

“I told the players to stop running and stay in the middle, and that is something I regret because I’m always the first to push them to fight until the end.

Cesc Fabregas: “I told them [Como players] to slow down at 4-0!”

Nico Paz had torn United apart with two goals and an assist; Anastasios Douvikas added a third; and Jacobo Ramón made it 4-0 before Joshua Zirkzee’s late strike set the final score at 4-1.

The thrashing leaves Michael Carrick’s position under intense scrutiny after another dismal display. United have now won just two of their 11 matches in all competitions this season.

Fàbregas, while proud of a “special night,” insisted his side must remain grounded.

The Spaniard’s admission only highlighted the scale of United’s humiliation on a night when even the opposing manager felt the need to show mercy.

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has delivered a public retort to his own captain, Bruno Fernandes, after the Portuguese midfielder threw the coaching staff under the bus following a humiliating defeat in Italy.

The public fallout stems from Wednesday’s disastrous 4-1 UEFA Champions League loss to tournament debutants Como, a result that extended Manchester United’s winless streak across all competitions to an abysmal seven matches.

The crisis escalated immediately after the final whistle at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium. Having been completely outclassed by Nico Paz and a vibrant Como side, Fernandes used his post-match media duties to question the team’s defensive philosophy, pointing the finger directly at Carrick’s staff.

“It’s a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball,” Fernandes declared, openly undermining the tactical plan.

When pressed further on whether the manager got the tactics wrong, the captain added, “That’s on the manager and the staff to see it, it’s not on me.

Facing immense pressure regarding his rapidly deteriorating job security, Carrick refused to let the captain’s comments slide during an explosive press conference.

The 45-year-old manager hit back forcefully, debunking Fernandes’ tactical claims and instead questioning the squad’s fundamental work ethic and desire.

“We actually half-pressed man-to-man the second half and then conceded a goal from that,” Carrick countered, completely rejecting the midfielder’s narrative.

He then delivered a scathing assessment of his players’ physical commitment.

“And there’s a little bit on whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don’t run, and you don’t run forward, and you don’t run back, you ain’t going to win,” Carrick stated bluntly.

The manager’s brutal response confirmed that the relationship between the coaching staff and the squad’s senior leadership is rapidly breaking down.

Fernandes’ complaints follow closely behind defender Lisandro Martínez’s recent explosive interview, where the Argentine centre-back criticised the club’s upper hierarchy and sporting direction.

With the players openly questioning the board and the manager explicitly calling out the players’ lack of running, the situation at Old Trafford appears utterly toxic.

A complete and dominant attacking performance helped Real Madrid beat Leipzig 4-1 to send a strong message to Barcelona ahead of El Clásico.

Spearheaded by goals from Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler, Kylian Mbappé, and substitute Yan Diomandé, Los Blancos ultimately showcased their superior attacking firepower to comfortably dismantle Martin Demichelis’s Leipzig squad and continue their strong European campaign.

The opening 40minutes were tightly contested, with Leipzig holding their own and goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt producing several crucial saves to frustrate the hosts.
However, Real Madrid’s persistence paid off just before the interval. In the 44th minute, Bernardo Silva finally broke the deadlock, finding the back of the net to give the Spanish giants a crucial 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

The momentum shifted entirely in the second half as Real Madrid found another gear. In the 52nd minute, Arda Güler doubled the advantage, finishing from close range following a header by Kylian Mbappé inside the box.

Despite Leipzig introducing several attacking substitutions in an attempt to claw their way back, they struggled to contain Madrid’s dynamic frontline and overwhelming possession.

The closing stages provided a flurry of late action. Kylian Mbappé added his name to the scoresheet in the 83rd minute, striking to put the game completely out of reach at 3-0.

Leipzig immediately responded, pulling a consolation goal back in the 85th minute through teenage substitute Tidiam Gomis.

Yet, Real Madrid had the final say. In the 87th minute, substitute Yan Diomandé, who had replaced Vinícius Júnior, capped off the victory with a clinical finish, sealing the emphatic 4-1 rout.