Bruno Fernandes' One-Man Press: What Como Exposed at United

Bruno Fernandes made 99 pressures against Como, more than any Manchester United teammate, and United still lost 4-1. After the game he blamed Michael Carrick’s decision not to press man to man. Opta’s data points the other way. For coaches, the match shows how a press built on one player’s effort hands the ball to a good passing side.

What Happened

Como, a club in Italy’s fourth tier as recently as 2019 and playing only its third European game, beat United 4-1 in the Champions League. Fernandes told TNT Sports: “It’s a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give too much [of] the ball to these teams they get confidence.” Carrick replied that “we half pressed man-to-man in the second half and ended up conceding a goal from that.”

Opta Analyst’s review shows United did press, just not together. Their 443 high-intensity pressures, and 227 in Como’s half, were each the second most by any team in a Champions League game this season. Como played 51.7% of their passes under high pressure.

Why It Matters

Fernandes led United in pressures overall (99), in the final third (41) and in Como’s half (70). In the last two, he had 12 and 15 more than any teammate despite going off in the 67th minute. Opta’s clips show the pattern: in the 13th minute he closes down center-back Jacobo Ramón with no one else pressing, and Cesc Fàbregas’ side play out easily. Minutes later he chases Ramón again with little secondary pressure on the passing options. Another time he presses the left-sided center-back and goalkeeper alone, and they pass around him.

High numbers don’t mean effective pressing. Comments from both Fernandes and Carrick suggest an aggressive man-to-man press wasn’t the first-half plan. Opta suggests Carrick may have wanted a compact shape that attacked gaps in transition against a strong passing team. Como had 63.8% of the ball in the first half. Opta’s view is that Fernandes acted on his own and that his solo forays were largely wasted.

Opta also grants that Fernandes may have had a point: United could have been braver in almost every phase, pressing included. The coaching problem is that the team’s plan and its captain’s actions didn’t match.

What This Means for Coaches

A press only works when the nearest teammates cover the passing options behind the first presser. When one player jumps alone, the opponent gets a free pass and the presser is out of the game for the next phase. Stack Archive’s high press coaching framework covers the pressing triggers and collective intensity that make a press work. Opta’s Como vs Man Utd match stats give the wider game context.

The match also suggests a leadership point: when a player who disagrees with the plan changes it alone on the pitch, the team ends up running neither plan well.

Source: Opta Analyst

Content created with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.