It’s been a tough start for Manchester United this season, far from what fans expected. But don’t count out captain Bruno Fernandes just yet. After a tough derby loss to Manchester City, and with a big game against Chelsea coming up this Saturday, the midfielder spoke honestly. He admitted the team needs more “personality” on the field. Yet, he insists the situation isn’t as bad as some people make it seem.
Fernandes shared some thoughts he’d heard, explaining that the team is doing some things well. “This week, Ruben Amorim tried to send a positive message,” Fernandes told DAZN. “He wanted us to see we are doing some things right. Of course, we have things to improve. We need to do some things differently. But it’s not all negative. The players aren’t as bad as some suggest. We have good points, and we have areas to get better.” He stressed that the team needs to show more fight.
He also talked about a discussion with “the coach.” “We need a lot of personality to be here right now,” Fernandes said. “You need courage to face our struggles. There were times when, if we believed a bit more, if we had a bit more heart, as we say in Portugal, more grit, we could have done things differently.” He noted that this feeling matched what Ruben Amorim believed.
“The coach thinks our team is a bit reactive, not proactive,” Fernandes explained. “We’re missing a little something inside us that could give us what we need. We need that ‘click’ to score goals. We need to be sharper with our chances. We need to close down spaces better and be more aggressive. We need to be proactive all the time, both when defending and attacking.”
External Criticism Doesn’t Shake Him
The captain for the Red Devils knows people are talking. In today’s world, “it’s almost impossible not to see information,” he said. But he promises these comments don’t mess with his game.
“It’s impossible for all that talk to affect what I do,” Fernandes stated firmly. “I reached this level, wanting to improve every day. That wasn’t because someone outside was talking badly about me or telling me what to do. It was because someone inside helped me get better. A coach, other players, everyone around me who wants the best for me.” He prefers to look at the bright side.
“Everyone has an opinion. Some people get paid for it, others do it for free,” he continued. “When you play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, you give everyone ‘clicks.’ And these days, ‘clicks’ mean money. Many people don’t even watch the full 90 minutes. They only see clips. So, I focus on opinions that are truly helpful for change. I look for feedback that can give me something different. Not everything in life is negative. We need to think and understand what good things we can take from it, and what we need to improve.”
