Club captain backs his side to improve ahead of next game
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has admitted his side were architects of their own downfall in Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, pointing to defensive lapses as the decisive factor at the Etihad Stadium.
Phil Foden opened the scoring with a header after Jeremy Doku bypassed Luke Shaw too easily on the flank.
Doku then set up Erling Haaland’s first goal after being put under too little pressure on the wing, before Haaland struck again on the break to seal a comfortable win for Pep Guardiola’s side.
“We have to be more in control of certain situations,” Fernandes said. “We conceded three goals that should have been avoided.
“We keep creating chances to score but we are not able to finish as many as we want. What we did today was not enough to get the result.”
United head coach Ruben Amorim has been heavily criticised for playing Bruno Fernandes out of position, as a CM rather than an AM, which has often left United too vulnerable in critical midfield positions.
Against City Fernandes was culpable after failing to track Foden’s run, allowing the Englishman to easily run into space in United’s box and head in the opener.
Fernandes said: “What we have to take from this game is to look at what we need to do better and go forward to the next game. We need to score goals and not concede. It is the main thing in football.”
