Manchester United's Worst Night in Europe: Como Humiliate Carrick's Side 4-1

Manchester United's season hit a new low on Tuesday as they were thrashed 4-1 by Como at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, one of the heaviest defeats an English club has suffered in the Champions League in years.

Como, playing in the competition for the first time in their history, were dominant from the opening exchanges and piled further pressure on a United side that had arrived in Italy already without a win in six matches across all competitions.

A chastening scoreline

The result leaves United's knockout-stage hopes in real jeopardy. They had already been beaten away at Atletico Madrid earlier in the campaign, and a second defeat from two Champions League matches is a damaging return for a side that qualified for the competition on the back of a third-place Premier League finish last season.

• Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como
• Result: Como 4-1 Manchester United
• Context: Como's first-ever Champions League campaign
• United's run: seventh match without a win across all competitions

Carrick's gesture speaks volumes

At full-time, Michael Carrick walked over to the small pocket of travelling United supporters and held up his hands in apology — without his players alongside him. It is the kind of gesture that has, in the club's recent history, preceded the end of a manager's reign, and it did little to quiet the growing sense around Old Trafford that the Carrick era may already be entering its final stretch.

United have made no change to their coaching staff, and the club's public position remains one of backing their head coach. But after a result this chastening, pressure on the dugout is only going one way.