Como beat Manchester United on Wednesday by 4-1. Nico Paz scored a double for the home side while the only goal from United came from Zirkzee in stoppage time.
The new Italian sensation Como, who doesn’t play like classic Italian teams, welcomed Manchester United. A day ago Como players and Manager were talking to the press about how United are dangerous and why they need to be careful.
But on the pitch, what followed after the first whistle reminded me of the Red Wedding from Game of Thrones. It was brutal and then some.
First half: Complete domination by hosts
United were still warming up but Como needed no time to settle in. Nico Paz had enough space for a barbecue in front of goal as he turned and curved one shot to the far post in the second minute of the game.
Even after that goal Como didn’t play it safe. They chased every single ball, every player and pressed like their life was on the line. United didn’t have a shot on target in the first 45 and every time Como came forward it looked like they’d score. They found a spare man in space every time they passed, unlike United who tried playing from the back and at some point it looked like one pass between Maguire and Mazraoui. Even if they passed forward Bruno or Tielemans would lose the ball anyway.
We all knew it would be bad, but damn! The first half performance was abysmal. Como dominated everywhere. It seems like the United midfield forgot how to pass the ball or just keep it. Their game sense died over and over again as some of those attempted passes made me question my life choices. Tielemans especially can’t catch a break. The guy lost the ball multiple times, failed to release a pass at the right moment and everything went wrong for him during the first 45 minutes.
I know de Ligt came back from a long injury but the guy looks slow, and he seems to have put on some serious weight too. Dalot as usual is neither here nor there. The entire back line has to be sold on the first day of the next transfer window.
Second half: The massacre
Como went through the United backline like knife through butter. Paz played a through ball for Douvikas, the striker ran around de Ligt to collect the pass and chipped over the incoming Lammens- the only United player I felt bad for in this game, he deserves better.
Carlos Baleba who came in as a substitute made a silly error by losing the ball to Paz who darted into the box and finished easily to the far corner completing his double. The fourth for Como came soon after with the United backline nowhere to be seen. Maguire was still running back from the halfway line when Ramon easily headed the ball into the net giving the keeper no chance.
The consolation goal came after Amad put a decent cross for Zirkzee who controlled and finished through the keeper’s legs to deny Como the clean sheet. Harry Amass and Shaey Lacey also got a few minutes with the latter getting yellow card within a minute after coming on to the pitch.
In a game of two Bruno’s and two Cunha’s Manchester United deserved to lose without any doubt. It’s to be seen if Carrick keeps his job tomorrow.