Rio Ferdinand makes brutal Manchester United claim after Como defeat

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand (Picture: Getty)

Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United looked like a team of competition winners during their shocking Champions League defeat to Como.

United’s disappointing start to the season reached new lows as they were thrashed 4-1 by Cesc Fabregas’ Como on Wednesday night.

Como were in Serie D when Manchester United last won the Champions League in 2008 but dismantled the Premier League giants from the first minute.

The impressive Nico Paz put Como ahead inside two minutes before providing the assist for the hosts’ second, scored by Tasos Douvikas.

Paz netted his second of the game on the hour mark and Jacobo Ramon headed home Como’s fourth before Joshua Zirkzee scored a consolation goal for Manchester United in injury-time.

Michael Carrick apologised to the travelling United fans in his post-match press conference and described his team’s performance as ‘not just bad but unacceptable’.

Manchester United legend Ferdinand was shocked and concerned by the performance out in Italy against a Como side who are not long established as a Serie A side.

Michael Carrick after Man Utd’s defeat to Como (Picture: Getty)

‘Cesc Fabregas’ Como have made us look like a team who had won a raffle to be in the Champions League,’ Ferdinand posted on X.

‘At times it looked as though Como had 12 players on the pitch. We were toothless in attack, no running power in the team, no patterns of play and an inability to press Como.

‘A lot of credit has to go to Cesc and the way he has built this team and then you see the way he has got his ideas into this team.

Como thumped Premier League giants Man Utd (Picture: Getty)

‘Everyone knows their jobs and are dialled in in and out of possession. They play to teammates under pressure – a great example of trust in one another.

‘But that is no excuse for us, we were poor on the night and look a team on zero confidence right now – so much to do to turn this around. And I haven’t even got onto the injuries!

‘The difference in budgets certainly wasn’t reflected in the difference between the two teams on the pitch! Nico Paz – lovely footballer by the way.’

"I 100% take responsibility for the overall team and the performance. That's where it stops. It stops with me."Michael Carrick reacts to Manchester United's "unacceptable" display against Como.🎙️ @LiamMacdevitt 📺 Stream on TNT Sports & HBO Max: https://t.co/fRCRh6tXYB pic.twitter.com/agXYEERLGq— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 21, 2026

Ferdinand’s former United teammate Dimitar Berbatov was equally alarmed by the defeat and said it looked like Como were taking on a ‘reserve team’.

‘It was a terrible, terrible night and a terrible game for Manchester United,’ Berbatov said on TNT Sports.

‘Como outplayed them in every way possible. It was like they were playing a reserve team, almost.

Thierry Henry reflects on a huge result for his Como 🫶 pic.twitter.com/S3U4HybICW— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 21, 2026

‘Are these the players who can compete for a club like Manchester United? Is it the right manager? Those questions will be asked after this kind of performance.

‘It’s going to be harder and harder for Michael Carrick to turn it around. It was like watching men against kids.’

Manchester United return from Italy having won just two of their first 11 games of the 2026/27 campaign.