Man United crushed in Como. And is Kane England’s best ever?

Summary of Man United crushed in Como. And is Kane England’s best ever?

by The Athletic

57m•October 22, 2026
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Overview of Man United crushed in Como. And is Kane England’s best ever?

This episode of The Totally Football Show recaps a packed Wednesday night of Champions League action and looks ahead to the Premier League weekend. The main talking points were Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich, Aston Villa’s continued perfect start in Europe, Manchester United’s dismal 4-1 defeat to Como, and a wider debate about whether Harry Kane is now England’s greatest-ever player.

Champions League Talking Points

Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich

  • Arsenal earned a credible point away to Bayern in a game they arguably shaded.
  • Eberechi Eze opened the scoring after a slick Martin Ødegaard assist.
  • Bayern equalized through Alphonso Davies, with Harry Kane providing a standout defence-splitting pass.
  • Kane also converted a penalty after a handball incident involving Arsenal defenders.
  • Declan Rice salvaged a draw late on after strong work from Noni Madueke and a smart layoff from Viktor Gyökeres.
  • The panel felt Arsenal’s performance was encouraging, especially given the absence of Bukayo Saka after an early injury.

Aston Villa continue to fly

  • Villa beat Víkingsur 3-1 to make it three wins from three in the Champions League.
  • Ross Barkley, Emiliano Buendía, and an own goal put the game beyond reach.
  • A brilliant overhead-style volley from the Icelandic side was ruled out by VAR.
  • The discussion highlighted Villa’s impressive squad depth and the impact of Unai Emery, who continues to outperform expectations.

Real Madrid, Inter, and others

  • Real Madrid beat Leipzig 4-1 in another open, attack-heavy game.
  • Victor Osimhen scored as Galatasaray beat Lille 4-2.
  • Club Brugge defeated Lens 3-0.
  • Inter beat Shakhtar Donetsk despite going down to 10 men after Alessandro Bastoni’s red card.
  • Real Betis continued their perfect start, and LASK recorded their first-ever Champions League win.

Manchester United’s Collapse at Como

Why it looked so bad

  • United were hammered 4-1 by Como, prompting talk of one of the club’s worst modern performances.
  • The panel stressed that Como were excellent, but United were also structurally poor and seemed disinterested without the ball.
  • Bruno Fernandes criticized the setup after the match, suggesting the press was not properly coordinated.

Tactical and structural issues

  • United appeared to defend in a 4-2-4, leaving huge spaces for Como to exploit.
  • Mason Mount and another central midfielder were overwhelmed by Como’s overloads in midfield.
  • Bruno Fernandes was used in an unusually deep or wide role, which the panel felt was symptomatic of wider confusion.
  • Nico Paz was singled out as the standout performer, with comparisons to players like Kaká and Javier Pastore.

Bigger picture

  • Carrick’s side are now 13th in the table and on a poor run.
  • The discussion turned to whether the club is trapped in yet another cycle of managerial chaos and structural mismanagement.
  • There was also speculation about possible future managerial candidates, including Antonio Conte.

Harry Kane: England’s Best Ever?

The case for Kane

  • The hosts argued that Kane is not only England’s greatest goalscorer, but also one of the best passers England have ever produced.
  • His ability to drop deep, dictate play, and hit defence-splitting passes was praised as unique.
  • One speaker argued Kane is now England’s greatest ever player overall, not just the best striker.

Why he stands out

  • He combines elite finishing with playmaking in a way few English players have managed.
  • The panel contrasted his all-round game with players like Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Glenn Hoddle, David Beckham, and Wayne Rooney.
  • Kane’s goal against Arsenal and his assist for Davies were used as examples of his complete attacking toolkit.

Premier League Weekend Preview

Biggest fixtures

  • Aston Villa vs Man City: Villa’s strong recent home record against City was highlighted.
  • Chelsea vs Spurs: Spurs’ poor record at Stamford Bridge was noted, but their recent improvement and returning players make it more competitive.
  • Arsenal vs Everton: Arsenal are expected to have enough, though Everton have historically made life difficult at the Emirates.
  • Liverpool vs Brighton: The panel asked whether this is actually a bigger test for Liverpool, given Brighton’s outstanding form.
  • Man United vs Bournemouth: Another pressure point for United after the Como defeat.

Form teams and concerns

  • Brighton’s scoring record and clean sheets have made them one of the league’s most impressive early-season sides.
  • Liverpool’s recent defensive wobble, especially Virgil van Dijk’s form, was discussed.
  • Sunderland’s struggles and Forest’s position near the bottom were also mentioned.

Notable Side Discussion: The “Tube Map of Hatred”

  • Duncan introduced a concept mapping London clubs and their rivalries, especially for listeners outside the UK.
  • The conversation explored asymmetric rivalries, where one club may care far more about the other than vice versa.
  • It was a light-hearted but thoughtful digression on football culture and local identity.

Final Takeaways

  • Arsenal’s draw in Munich was encouraging, especially given injuries and squad rotation.
  • Aston Villa continue to look like serious contenders in Europe.
  • Manchester United’s loss in Como was alarming not just because of the scoreline, but because of the lack of coherence and fight.
  • Harry Kane’s all-around game is now so complete that the panel strongly made the case for him as England’s greatest player ever.