Bruno Fernandes has backed Manchester United to bounce back from dropping two points at Crystal Palace, because the team are now playing with confidence and belief that was lacking last season.
United failed to win a game for the first time since November 6 at Selhurst Park and the 90th-minute concession of an equaliser eased the pressure on Arsenal ahead of this weekend's showdown at the Emirates.
But after losing their first two games under Erik ten Hag in August, United have now responded to all five of the games they've failed to win by winning their next match. Doing so on Sunday would propel them back into the conversation over the title race.
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United failed to win 29 of their 49 games in all competitions last season and only responded by winning their next match on 15 occasions. But rather than a change in mentality, Fernandes insists the turnaround is due to confidence.
"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," he said.
"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.
"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."
Ten Hag's side had been talked about as unlikely title challengers since beating Manchester City last weekend but the Dutchman and his players have refused to get carried away and countenance such talk when the season is only at its halfway point.
The failure to hold on to the lead Fernandes had given them at Selhurst Park was an indication of why being labelled title challengers might have been premature. United did little to try and kill the game in the second half and have still not won away from home in the Premier League this season by more than one goal.
"We should and could have closed the game before but we didn’t, they had an amazing goal at the end that gave them the point," said Fernandes. "It’s no tactics to try to win games for 1-0, it’s just try to win the games, find a solution to win the game."
Fernandes' goal at Palace was assisted by Christian Eriksen at the end of a smart team move. It was Eriksen's seventh assist since joining United on a free transfer.
But the goalscorer praised the movement of Marcus Rashford and Wout Weghorst as well and insisted individuals were shining because of the cohesion of the team.
"Christian has been really good, but everyone in the team has been really good. As we showed with the goal, it was everything we train, some movements, the passes we did, that came through and after it’s the quality of the players that make the difference," said Fernandes.
"Christian has the vision and the quality to do the passes. He did it today and he will keep doing it, but without the movement of Rashy, of Wout, on the front post it will not create the space for me behind, so it’s a team performance, it’s a team that makes the individuals come through with showing good skills."
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