Manchester United attacking midfielder, Bruno Fernandes stressed that the club still has something to fight for even though United’s chance of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League has grown very slim.
United’s 4-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool has pushed United down to the 6th spot with 54 points in 33 games, three points behind 4th placed Tottenham Hotspur which still have a game in hand.
Aside from Tottenham, 5th placed Arsenal are still very much in contention for a top-four finish. Arsenal currently have 54 points in 31 games which means that even if Chelsea defeats the Gunners tonight, April 20, the club will remain on the 5th spot with the same points as United.
Tottenham still have clubs like Brentford, Leicester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Burnley, and Norwich City to play before the season ends. Based on their current form, Spurs have the potential of beating all the aforementioned clubs. The two clubs that could give Tottenham a tough time in their remaining six fixtures are Liverpool and probably Arsenal.
As for Manchester United, they still have Premier League games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Brentford, Brighton, and Crystal Palace. Based on their current form, any of the aforementioned clubs could give United a tough game and could even defeat the Red Devils.
Unfortunately for United, any defeat at this point of the Premier League campaign could make it impossible for them to dream of a top-four finish. As it stands, the destiny of finishing in the top four is no longer in their hands. United can only break into the top four if Tottenham Hotspur suffer at least two defeats and United win all their remaining league games.
Despite how complicated the top-four battle is for United, Bruno Fernandes stressed that United’s dream of finishing in the top four is not over.
After the 4-0 humiliating defeat at the hands of Liverpool on April 19, Fernandes noted that the club’s fans deserved better from him and his teammates.
Contrary to criticism that most Manchester United players don’t track back or run for the ball during games, Fernandes insisted that all his teammates run but noted that he and his teammates need to do a self-examination to understand what is wrong with the team.
“The fans don’t deserve us to play this way,” Bruno Fernandes told reporters after the 4-0 bashing at the hands of Liverpool on Tuesday. “They deserve more from us. The way they stay and applaud us, they deserve more. We have to raise our level higher. It is what it is.
“I think everyone runs. I think there is an effort from everyone. I don’t think someone does not give 100%. We have to do it for ourselves, the clubs, the fans, and everyone.
“We have to say things but that is kept in the dressing room. Now it is over we have to think of the next game.
“Liverpool is ready for the title. We are not. I don’t need to be here saying about the difference of the level.
“We have to look at ourselves, from top to bottom, and understand what is going wrong. We are competing until the end. Nobody can put it down and think it is over. We have something to fight for.”
🗣 “Liverpool is fighting for the title, we are not fighting for nothing.”
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 19, 2022
Bruno Fernandes on the difference between Manchester United and Liverpool pic.twitter.com/Hl0FAtQUS1
Coach Ralf Rangnick confirmed that
Bruno Fernandes addressed his teammates after the defeat at the hands of Liverpool
Futballnews has reported that the interim coach of Manchester United, Ralf Rangnick described the 4-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool as humiliating and embarrassing.
Rangnick said after the defeat at Anfield stadium, he and Bruno Fernandes addressed the club’s players but refused to reveal the content of Fernandes’ message to his teammates.
“I think so, yes,” Rangnick replied when asked if the players were self-critical. “We had a conversation in the locker room right now where Bruno also said something towards the team and I said something.
“In the end, right now it doesn’t help. We have to hope for some injured players coming back for Saturday and then just take it game-by-game. I don’t think it helps to speculate about our chances of the top four after a performance like the one today.
“What I tell them in the locker room stays there. But in general, it is similar to what I say now. We were just not up to it in the first half, we didn’t win a single second ball in most of the first-ball situations we were just spectators, and onlookers. If you play like that against a team like Liverpool it’s difficult.”
Manchester United’s next Premier League game is against Arsenal. The match is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the Emirates Stadium.
What is Fernandes’ stats at Manchester United this season
So far this season, Bruno Fernandes has scored 9 goals and provided 14 assists in 41 games in all competitions.
On April 1, 2022, the 27-year-old Portuguese midfielder extended his contract with Manchester United. Based on the new contract, Fernandes currently earns a whopping £240,000 per week at United.
His contract with Manchester United will expire on June 30, 2026, but the contract comes with an option of being extended further. Fernandes’ transfer market value is €90 million.
Bruno Fernandes: “They [fans] deserve much more than this.” [@footballdaily]
— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) April 19, 2022
pic.twitter.com/g5MhhfUTIj
