Bruno Fernandes insists Manchester United are ready to do “great things” and ensure their title challenge does not get blown off course.
United face Arsenal on Sunday in a clash of the titans in a real throwback to the days when meetings between these two great clubs were title deciders. Erik ten Hag’s men suffered a rare setback when they were held to a draw at Crystal Palace in midweek to end their nine-game winning streak.
It felt like more of a defeat because United were pinned back so late on by Michael Olise’s injury-time leveller, and in previous seasons it might have been a serious blow at Old Trafford. But Fernandes says that United boss Ten Hag has instilled a new belief that will not be shaken by one setback because they are here to stay in this season’s title race.
United midfielder Fernandes said of the stalemate at Selhurst Park: “This will not affect the team, for sure, we can’t be affected by a result that was not the way we would like it to be. We’re doing great things. I think the team now is confident, players are playing really good, they are showing themselves, they’re doing what they have to do and what the managers asked us to do and we have to carry on with that, it’s a responsibility we have to do.
“It’s still a good moment for us, we’re still doing great things, we have to go to the next one and try to win. It’s confidence. Last season, the last two seasons have been really difficult, the confidence of the players was really low. I think that’s why results weren’t coming, even when it was a tough period it was difficult to come through that.
“United was in a race to win at Palace, but we didn’t. Now, our race is to win the next one, that is our race, game by game, three days by three days, we just have to think on to the next one. Obviously, a draw is not enough for us, we want to win the game and we didn’t. It’s gone now, there’s nothing we can do about this one.
Who will win the Premier League this season? Have your say in the comments!
“Just recover, be ready for the next one, understand what we did wrong in this game to make sure we don’t do it in the next ones, and carry on. We can only do the counting at the end of the season, so we have to win every game we have to look ahead, the next one is Arsenal away.”
United missed the chance to close the gap on Arsenal and really turn up the heat on Mikel Arteta’s leaders. Not since the days of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson have these two gone head-to-head in a title clash. The match itself has so much history and rivalry, from Pizzagate to the Battle of Old Trafford. The faces and villains may have changed but the meaning has returned with so much at stake for both clubs.
Fernandes is also rediscovering his best form - his goal at Palace was his fourth in the Premier League this season, his 40th in total for United - and Ten Hag is building strong foundations at Old Trafford. The Portugal star has played wide, in the middle and, while his contribution may not have been as eye-catching as his first 18 months at the club, he is happy just to make a difference.
Fernandes said: “I think I’ve always been the same, sometimes I score, sometimes I don’t, sometimes I assist, sometimes I don’t, sometimes I perform well, other times not so well.
“It’s football, it’s not always the way we want. I would like to perform every week good, every week scoring goals and assisting my teammates, but it’s not possible. It’s possible, but I don’t do that.
“I’m happy for what the team is doing and what I have to do and need to do is help the team in any way I can and I think I’ve been doing that and I have to carry on in that way.”
