Even Bruno Fernandes, captain of Manchester United, expressed disbelief at their lack of integrity in a recent preseason loss. Then they went up to face Everton and completely underwhelmed. In that game—the awesomely chaotic and thrilling 2-2 home draw against Everton—Bruno scored the opening goal and then Ndaiye leveled for Everton. Though Mason Mount would go on to score the only goal of the match for United, Fernandes’s frustration with the overall display overshadowed the result.
In the aftermath of that match, Fernandes didn’t mince words in describing the appearance of his own team as “lazy.” He was clear, though, that improvement should be our focus. It’s a big deal for Manchester United to start getting a better idea of what their style of play will be in the long term. His remarks are emblematic of a wider fear that the team simply won’t be ready as the new season dawningly approaches.
Fernandes emphasized the importance of making additional signings to strengthen the squad, adding competitive depth. He stated, “Hopefully we can get one or two players more to help with that,” indicating his belief that additional quality in the team would raise performance levels.
Financial limitations have long been a mantra at Manchester United, and Fernandes collapsed this third wall when he set the scene with his comments. It’s getting better … but it’s not there, where it should be. And I certainly don’t want to throw anyone under the bus. Still, the club is certainly doing all they can to swim through this fiscal waters they’ve often described as treacherous. This acknowledgment highlights the difficult position the club is in to improve their roster.
Fernandes stressed the importance of bedding those new arrivals into the squad seamlessly. He noted, “It’s been important for developing how we want to play and getting the new players involved too.” His remarks show that he doesn’t see new signings as simple makeshift replacements. He envisions them as building blocks for developing a strong team culture.
Ruben Amorim, the manager of Sporting Lisbon, responded to Fernandes’s attacks in his post-match statement. He agreed with the assessment of the team’s performance, stating, “We are going with the feeling that we need to do a lot of things [better].” Amorim’s admission of the team’s failings should serve as an indicator of the prevailing feeling among the squad about their state of play at present.
