Como 4 Manchester United 1: Dismal United torn apart in Champions League, pressure builds on Carrick New York Times (Online) Cerys Jones Manchester United's disastrous season hit another crushing low as they were savaged by Cesc Fabregas's Como in the Champions League. As they came up woefully short once again, United were put to the sword by Serie A's rising force, Argentina international Nico Paz scoring twice while Anastasios Douvikas and Jacobo Ramon also got on the scoresheet to heap more pressure on head coach Michael Carrick. Just like against Atletico Madrid eight days ago, Carrick's side fell behind in a flash, with the dangerous Paz finding space just inside the area to whip an unstoppable effort past a despairing Senne Lammens with less than two minutes gone. The second half began in equally excruciating circumstances, the influential Paz popping up during a sweeping move and teeing up Douvikas to stroke home the hosts' second in the 49th minute. Paz then side-footed home after capitalising on a loose ball from half-time substitute Carlos Baleba before defender Ramon thumped in a header from Kaiki's teasing back-post cross. Joshua Zirkzee struck a late consolation goal but another demorcalising defeat leaves United with two losses from their opening three games in the competition, their only win coming against minnows Sabah, and, more importantly, a seven-match winless run in all competitions to reckon with. Cerys Jones and Conor O'Neill break down the main talking points from a dismal European night for Carrick's men. Carrick was given the permanent Manchester United job in large part because he allowed fans and players to dream of Champions League football. That reality is now a nightmare. Yes, there are injuries, but this was a joyless, limp and timid performance that goes beyond any availability. United were stretched past breaking point off the ball, were left to chase shadows, were careless and lacking quality in possession, and were completely outplayed. A competition that was supposed to be a chance for United to build their squad and re-establish their reputation in Europe is turning instead into a semi-regular opportunity for further humiliation. Carrick's substitutes — other than turning to Baleba and Amad at half-time in an attempt to salvage things — quickly turned to a mix of damage limitation (withdrawing Bruno Fernandes and Matthijs de Ligt to avoid either physical harm or further embarrassment) and a 'nothing to lose' mood. Academy graduates Shea Lacey and Harry Amass were handed cameos. It is not a night they will quickly forget, but one they will want to. Carrick is far from the only issue at United. Lisandro Martinez's comments last week highlighted a sense that the squad is undercooked. The decisions made around recruitment and the state of the club's finances will only continue to be spotlighted. The head coach might not be the root cause of United's issues but the idea that he can solve them is losing credibility with every performance and result like this. Carrick said on Sunday that his side's 1-1 draw at Elland Road felt like a “fresh start” . If the quality of performance continues in this vein, how long can it be before United feel they need one in the dugout? To see the gap in ruthlessness that continues to cost Manchester United, you only have to watch the first three minutes of each half. Two minutes after kick-off, United managed to string together a promising attack. Some neat link-up between Matheus Cunha and Fernandes drew in Como's defenders, leaving Diogo Dalot in space on the right. From inside the box and after a fortunate deflection, he fired across the face of goal and out for a goal kick. Less than a minute later, the hosts were crowded around the opposite box and Lucas Da Cunha pulled away from Noussair Mazraoui to play in Paz. The 22-year-old took one touch to control, one to push the ball out of his feet, and the third, with Harry Maguire still closing in, sailed past Lammens and into the Manchester United net. After the restart, trailing 1-0, United emerged with renewed intensity — for all of four minutes. Their initial attempts to progress looked more promising but they could not turn that into a shot and in the 49th minute, five passes moved Como from their own goalkeeper to striker Douvikas. A simple drift inside into the yawning gap between Maguire and the returning De Ligt set him onto Paz's through ball for an emphatic, decisive first-time finish. Just as against Leeds — or any number of other examples this season — Carrick's men lacked any kind of confidence or cutting edge in front of goal. They completely failed to take their opportunities and served up chances to their opponents with alarming ease, which they snapped up with the sort of ruthlessness that seems to have completely deserted United. They look as toothless as they do vulnerable. Cerys Jones Fernandes' 67th-minute substitution, and his deeply frustrated reaction, were symbolic of United's miserable performance. Under Carrick and his predecessors, United's form has been inextricably tied to Fernandes', and when he fails to click, the rest of the team usually follows. It was a strange decision by the United head coach to field him as a centre-forward and he cut an isolated figure in this unfamiliar role. Fernandes lacks the pace to make the darting runs in behind required of a striker, the kind which can be provided by injured first-choice option Benjamin Sesko or Bryan Mbeumo, who has deputised there but was restored to his more familiar role on the right flank here. Fernandes spent much of the game unsuccessfully trying to cajole United's forward line into pressing a Como side that controlled possession with ease. He had more joy when dropping deeper and still created two chances, more than any other United player mustered, but this was another subdued performance from the Portuguese international. Carrick was probably justified in taking him off but the United head coach had already tied Fernandes' hands by fielding him in a role that limited his creative strengths. Substituting him off with 23 minutes to go spoke volumes of how disastrous a night this was for United. Conor O'Neill Emphatic finishing, silky dribbling and inventive playmaking. Paz belongs in the Champions League and against United he delivered his marquee performance in the competition, scoring twice and registering an assist. From the moment he put his side 1-0 up with a sweetly struck, curled left-footed finish, Paz never relinquished his grip on the game. It was puzzling that United, in just the opening minutes, allowed such a gifted attacker to receive the ball on the edge of the box under no pressure, free to cut inside and score. But then again, Paz excels at drifting into pockets of space unnoticed, with the touch map below showing how Fabregas gives him the freedom to influence the game from across the pitch. That roaming role speaks to his confidence in possession. Paz actively seeks the ball and instantly looks to threaten. He glided across the pitch, his tall, wiry frame allowing him to dribble in either direction. United were reduced to brute-force methods to stop him, with Andrey Santos booked for hacking Paz down after he had skipped the ball over him with a delightful outside-of-the-boot dink on the left touchline. For all his precocious talent, there is an innate maturity to Paz's game. Despite his mazy dribbling and ability to pick an eye-of-the-needle pass, there is a wonderful economy to his play. Rather than indulging his bag of tricks, Paz constantly takes just the right number of touches, often keeping Como's tempo flowing through one- or two-touch combinations. His assist demonstrated this, playing a simple but perfectly weighted ball for Douvikas to convert. There is an honest work-rate behind the artistry, too. His third goal involvement came through intelligent pressing and anticipation, intercepting Baleba's pass before breaking through on goal. United's miserable form may dominate the aftermath but Paz's masterful performance deserves just as much attention. Conor O'Neill We will bring you this after he has spoken at his post-match press conference. We will bring you this after he has spoken at his post-match press conference. Sunday, October 25 : Bournemouth (home), Premier League, 2pm UK, 10am ET Saturday, October 24 : Sassoulo (home), Serie A, 2pm UK, 9am ET