Opposite number Cesc Fabregas has overseen an incredible rise at the Italian outfit, and they will be bidding to become the first Serie A side since Lazio in 1999/2000 to win their first two home games in the European Cup/Champions League.
Six games without a win for United
The Red Devils' away record is poor, with only one win from their last 10 UCL away games (D3 L6). Not to mention that in their last 15, United have only kept one clean sheet (2-0 vs Villarreal in November 2021).
Their six-match winless run in all competitions (D3 L3) hasn't helped Carrick's cause, and there are already whispers that the hierarchy could be looking to replace him if results don't quickly improve.
Whilst potentially looking to move on another manager so soon is hardly likely to curry favour amongst a United faithful that have been down this road far too many times recently, one can at least understand the board's position in this instance.
After all, it is the club's worst start since 1986 under Ron Atkinson, and it's as if anyone connected with the first team felt that the job was done by getting the club back into the Champions League last season, but the fact is that the hard work really begins now.
Yoro ruled out
Beating Sabah 4-0 wasn't really anything to get excited about, and the 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in their last UCL fixture was a far more accurate representation of United's current aspirations.
Carrick will likely point to the fact that his side created four big chances in Madrid - but didn't score any - which was their most in a UCL game since September 2012 against Galatasaray.
That match was United's sixth loss in their last nine UCL games (W1 D2), and if chance creation is all the club has in order to be able to put a positive spin on things, that has to be a worry.
Leny Yoro getting a red card for a professional foul in the 74th minute against Atleti means he's ruled out for this one.
Rashford the danger man?
Were Marcus Rashford to be selected, it would be the Englishman's 50th Champions League appearance (34 for Man Utd, 11 for Barcelona and four for Aston Villa).
In his previous 49 appearances in the competition, Rashford has scored 17 goals, with Harry Kane (34), Raheem Sterling (20) and Andy Cole (18) being the only English players to score more in their first 50 UCL games.
For Como, there have been immense changes since Fabregas took charge. None more so than in personnel terms.
In the Italian side's opening two Champions League matches, there wasn't a single player in the starting XIs who was born in Italy, and that's only the second time in the competition's history it's happened, after Sheriff Tiraspol in 2021/22.
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Diao to lead the line for Como
Though the locals could bristle at such a thought, similarly, they have to be enjoying the ride under the Spaniard, after being taken to unprecedented levels of success by him.
Trevoh Chalobah will need a late fitness test to determine whether he'll play any part in the match, but one player who is fit, and whom Fabregas will hope can score the goals to fire his side to victory, is Assane Diao.
At 21 years and 37 days old, he became the youngest African player to find the net in both his first two appearances in the competition, against RB Leipzig and Feyenoord.
His exploits also ensured he is only the third player, after Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus, 1995) and Edinson Cavani (Napoli, 2011), to score for an Italian club in his opening two Champions League games.
Recent UCL history against the Italians
It's likely to be a tough test for the Italians though, and recent UCL history is against them.
In the last six games between English and Italian teams since the beginning of the 2025/26 campaign, it's the Premier League sides who have the edge with five wins. Atalanta's 2-1 victory against Chelsea is the only exception.
This is the first meeting between Como and United, and though Carrick and Fabregas have never met as coaches, they have been in opposition in the competition, back in 2008/09.
On that occasion, the Red Devils triumphed over Arsenal in a two-legged semi-final, to set up a clash in Rome against Barcelona.
Though there's no such reward available to the victors this time, Carrick would surely settle for the same outcome.
Jason Pettigrove has been the features writer for Flashscore since 2025, utilising Opta data to form the basis of his articles. He has previously worked for high-profile football clubs, news and media outlets, both in print and digital, and can usually be found watching FC Barcelona when time permits. You can read more of his pieces here.
