Bruno Fernandes rues Manchester United’s inability to see off Fulham
Manchester United’s new season have not gone as per expectations so far. After suffering a 1-0 defeat in the opening match against Arsenal, it was expected that the team would get a win against Fulham. Initially, Ruben Amorim’s team played aggressively, and Matheus Cunha shook the goalpost of Fulham.
Bruno Fernandes got a chance to convert in the first half, but he missed his penalty. After this, the second half started, and the ball went into the goal after deflecting from Rodrigo Muniz’s feet from Leny Yoro’s header. Even after getting the lead, United failed to handle the pressure, and Fulham equalised through Emile Smith Rowe. Eventually, the match ended at 1-1, and once again, we remained away from victory.
Bruno Fernandes’ disappointment and United’s condition
After the match, Bruno Fernandes expressed his displeasure while talking to BBC MOTD. The captain believed that the team could not be happy with only one point because the goal was to get three points. He said that the team defended well for a long time, but missed a chance and that resulted in a goal.
Bruno Fernandes rues Manchester United's inability to see off Fulham.
Bruno Fernandes shows frustration after United fail to secure a win at Fulham.
It is clear from Fernandes’ words that United are internally dissatisfied with this result. He considered this result equivalent to a defeat because the team had taken the lead and then failed to hold it. This criticism seems even deeper considering United’s current situation.
“We cannot be satisfied with one point. We came here to win the game. We were defending very well, but in one of them, they got their goal. For us, it is very disappointing not to win the game today.”
Finishing 15th in the league last season, losing the Europa League final to Spurs and now taking just one point in the first two matches of the new season show that despite Amorim’s arrival, the effect of the change is not visible in results. The 30-year-old made it clear that the team should no longer be satisfied with just draws or average results, but they will have to show hunger for victory.
We agree with Fernandes that the draw against Fulham is not satisfactory. A club like United should take three points in such matches. However, Fernandes’ own role in this result cannot be ignored. If his penalty had been converted, it could have changed the course of the match.
As captain, his responsibility becomes even greater. Apart from this, this result points towards deeper problems within United. Amorim’s plans still lack a clear direction, and the team seem unable to handle pressure. Missing wins in matches like Fulham shows that hard work alone is not enough, but both mentality and strategy have to be strengthened. Fernandes’ disappointment is justified, but to improve, the entire team will have to understand its responsibility. Meanwhile, Manchester United have ended their pursuit of Aston Villa ace Emiliano Martinez this summer.