*Rice Rescues Arsenal At Bayern
*Real Madrid Make Mincemeat Of Leipzig
*Underdogs Real Betis, Aston Villa Record Third Straight Wins
*Osimhen Scores In Galatasaray Away Victory
A storm is brewing at Manchester United as skipper Bruno Fernandes turned on head coach Michael Carrick following one of the most humiliating nights in the club’s European history.
A 4-1 Champions League hammering at Como, Wednesday night (Nigeria time), has also led to Carrick fielding questions about his future.
Carrick apologised to the 700 travelling fans, having ignored his beaten players after the final whistle to march across the pitch and repeatedly hold his hands up – in a manner similar to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following a 4-1 defeat at Watford in November 2021 which led to his dismissal as United boss 24 hours later.
However, Fernandes – widely accepted as a football obsessive who watches games regularly as he understands the tactical side as well as any player in the United squad – inflicted more damage when he spoke to TNT Sports.
“It’s a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence,” he told TNT Sports.
Asked directly whether Carrick got his tactics wrong, Fernandes added: “That’s on the manager and staff to see, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable.”
Told of Fernandes’ comments in his post-match press conference, Carrick offered a curt response: “There’s a little bit of 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 aren’t going to win.”
Utd have just three points from three matches and are underwhelming in the Premier League too,despite their multimillion Pound player additions in the summer. The fans do not find the situations funny.
Rice Rescues Arsenal At Bayern, Saka Out Injured
Declan Rice rescued Arsenal with a late equaliser in an electric 2-2 Champions League draw at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Arsenal’s evening in Germany began ominously when Bukayo Saka limped out of the contest in the 10th minute, clutching his knee after falling while attempting a pass.
Fifteen minutes later, however, Eberechi Eze raced on to Martin Odegaard’s long ball and fired an angled shot past Manuel Neuer. Initially flagged offside, the goal was awarded following a VAR review.
Bayern replied in the 35th minute when Harry Kane released Alphonso Davies down the left with a through ball from halfway, the Canadian breaking clear before beating David Raya with a composed right-footed finish.
Kane put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the 61st minute after his shot struck Jurrien Timber’s raised hand, blasting his 58th Champions League goal into the roof of the net.
But Rice had the final say,
eight minutes from time, exchanging passes with Viktor Gyokeres inside the box before slotting past Neuer.
RESULTS OF UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHES PLAYED WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER:
*Como – Manchester Utd 4-1
*Lille – Galatasaray 2-4
*Aston Villa – Viking 3-1
*Bayern Munich – Arsenal 2-2
*Betis – Feyenoord 1-0
*Club Brugge KV – Lens 3-0
*Inter – Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0
*Real Madrid – RB Leipzig 4-1
*Sporting CP – LASK 2-3
*PHOTO CAPTION: Carrick tries to comprehend what he has just seen after United’s 4-1 defeat against Como.
