Why Como’s dominant win over Manchester United should be no surprise at all

Why Como’s dominant win over Manchester United should be no surprise at all Serie A side Como absolutely dominated Manchester United in the Champions League, picking up a 4-1 win and showing that they’re a class above the Red Devils. While there has been a sense of surprise at the result, it shouldn’t be as staggering as it has turned out to be. A lot of it largely depends on whether one has actually followed or watched Como regularly or not. Since their rebuild, Mirwan Suwarso’s club has been hell-bent on several core ideas – from the entity being built around a community, being marketed as a lakeside destination and playing a very specific way and living upto that promise. It helped them sail through to the Serie A, build revenue chains other clubs cannot and improve players using a tactical identity that sets them apart even in the Italian football landscape. If one compares that to Manchester United, the difference is what should qualify as staggering. The Red Devils hop from one identity to another, fail to back managers and hire them or sack them at the wrong times. Even if they’re hired, backing for them is questionable, making sure a long-term vision never comes to fruition. That is also because – like Juventus, Manchester United are reactive, not pro-active. They make decisions on the basis of how things unfold, instead of having an understanding of how they can unfold and being confident in their belief system that it will help them fight their way through the challenges. Players suffer, signings never work out and today was a classic example of that. Besides that, Michael Carrick’s side had several injuries to contend with, on top of Manchester United anyway having a squad which was left short in the summer. Como, on the other hand, have creative ideas. Those ideas work because their tactical identity under Fabregas and beyond allows them to give players the platform to improve. There is barely any pressure for immediate impact either, as Martin Baturina took several months to actually impress after his big money move in 2025. But he did thrive, because the system suits his skillset. Como had injury problems of their own, coming into the game. The game could’ve been much more dominant if Assane Diao was fit. But Fabregas’ side didn’t need more, as the challenge of a directionless Manchester United was swatted away by a sense of confidence in their belief system, which powers them through even in Serie A. That will continue to happen. And in a way, the game was a coming together of contrasts in how good or bad two approaches can get. And if someone is surprised, this is a wake up call. Kaustubh Pandey – GIFN