Manchester United have released a statement after Bruno Fernandes’ social media account appeared to post a message calling for INEOS to be removed. The Red Devils’ captain was unable to summon his usual Roy of the Rovers-style heroics on Sunday afternoon, as Brighton & Hove Albion condemned United to a 2-1 home defeat in the FA Cup third round.
Overseen by caretaker manager Darren Fletcher, the loss means United are now out of every cup competition this season. They exited both the FA Cup and League Cup at the first hurdle, having already suffered an infamous defeat to Grimsby Town back in August - the first time the club had ever lost to a fourth-tier side in a competitive fixture.
Given the increasingly messy circumstances at a club Fernandes has grown ever more loyal to over his six years at Old Trafford, it would not be surprising to see the 31-year-old take a stand against some of the decisions being made behind the scenes. While Ruben Amorim has already been shown the door, some fans are now calling for change at corporate level, with Jason Wilcox coming under scrutiny - and where United go from here is anybody’s guess.
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Man Utd Release Statement Amid Unusual Social Media Posts by Fernandes
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Although Fernandes is never short of words for opponents, referees, or opposition supporters on the pitch, those who know him understand that he would never publicly throw the club under the bus. His off-field persona has always revolved around respect and responsibility.
It has since been revealed that his X account was hacked, with the club posting the following statement after his account had wrote: "Let's get rid of INEOS" (see below):
"Bruno Fernandes’s X account has been hacked. Supporters should not engage with any of the posts or direct messages."
It quickly became apparent that Fernandes’ X account had been hacked when several posts began to contain expletives, while the decision to share an image of the infamous 7-0 defeat to Liverpool was entirely out of character for the attacking midfielder.
Around six hours after the wave of unusual posts, some of his replies and retweets remain, though it appears the hacker's main posts have been deleted.
Bruno Fernandes Unable to Play Hero as United Crash Out of FA Cup
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It isn't outlandish to suggest that Fernandes has been the only United player consistently performing anywhere near his wage over the past few years, but even he was unable to drag his side through the FA Cup this time. Two goals from former United striker Danny Welbeck sealed their fate, despite Benjamin Sesko's 85th-minute strike briefly offering a lifeline.
With 19 shots, seven on target and 60 per cent possession, it was another familiar tale of missed opportunities for the Red Devils. As a result, qualifying for European competition next season via a strong league finish and appointing a manager that can help them progress now stands as their only remaining objectives.
United currently sit seventh in the Premier League, a position that would earn them a place in the Europa Conference League as things stand.