Manchester United cemented a European record nobody wants, becoming the first team in UEFA history to concede a goal in the first two minutes of back-to-back major European matches. It’s a gut punch, and it absolutely piles the pressure on manager Michael Carrick as the 2026/27 season continues its dismal start.
A Record Nobody Wants To Own
United’s struggles are real, and they’re stuck in the dredges in European play right now. They kicked off their Champions League journey with a strong win against Azerbaijani minnows Sabah, which felt like a good start. But man, has it gone downhill fast. Road fixtures against Atletico Madrid and Como have seen the Red Devils in real peril early in the league phase play. Against Atletico Madrid on October 13, Pablo Barrios found the back of the net less than 60 seconds into their match at the Metropolitano, leading to a 2-0 defeat. Then, on Wednesday against Como, Nico Paz struck in the second minute of their game in Italy. Paz even bagged a second goal as Como would eventually move to a shocking 3-0 advantage before the hour mark. To concede in the first minute against Atletico Madrid and then the second minute against Como? That’s a UEFA first, and not the kind you want on your resume.
Michael Carrick: From Interim Hero To The Hot Seat
Remember when Michael Carrick seemed like the right choice for permanent manager? After he guided United to a third-placed finish in the Premier League last season on an interim tag, it felt like a no-brainer to give him the job this summer. But since the 2026/27 season started, it has absolutely gone wrong. The team has managed only two wins across all competitions. They’re sitting 13th in the Premier League and they’re already out of the EFL Cup in the early phases. Carrick’s been under pressure for a few weeks now, but falling down 3-0 to Como in such a dismal fashion, with only two wins across all competitions this season, feels like it could certainly spell the end for him. The axe could drop after a negative result of this magnitude. What a mess for the Red Devils.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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