Manchester United talisman Bruno Fernandes has challenged his team-mates to maintain and develop the incredible fighting spirit that underpinned Monday’s 2-1 win over Liverpool.
The Reds produced a courageous and ferocious performance at Old Trafford to earn three important Premier League points, thanks in part to goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.
While the scorers naturally get the limelight, it was genuinely a team display from Erik ten Hag’s side and every single player on the pitch showed their commitment to the cause.
Matches against Liverpool are always absolutely pivotal for both the players and fans, but that was certainly the case on Monday evening following United’s disappointing start to the season and stand-in captain Fernandes was inspired by the entire squad’s output.
While the scorers naturally get the limelight, it was genuinely a team display from Erik ten Hag’s side and every single player on the pitch showed their commitment to the cause.
Matches against Liverpool are always absolutely pivotal for both the players and fans, but that was certainly the case on Monday evening following United’s disappointing start to the season and stand-in captain Fernandes was inspired by the entire squad’s output.
The challenge now, as Bruno says, is to use this victory as a springboard for more success:
“To get these three points is massive for us but now this game is done. We have to look forward and carry on this attitude, this passion and this character that we showed tonight into the next games.
“The attitude that we showed tonight, the passion that we showed, the desire to win the game, not that we didn't show it before, but in the last two games we could add something more and today was the day we showed all of that together with the quality of the players.”
“Obviously it's a great night and a great result, something we expect from Manchester United,”he told us.
“To get these three points is massive for us but now this game is done. We have to look forward and carry on this attitude, this passion and this character that we showed tonight into the next games.
“The attitude that we showed tonight, the passion that we showed, the desire to win the game, not that we didn't show it before, but in the last two games we could add something more and today was the day we showed all of that together with the quality of the players.”
Our attacking play at the Theatre of Dreams was absolutely mesmerising at times and Liverpool could not handle the fluidity of our forward players. But it was probably the defence that stood out the most, against a Liverpool side that has become so feared in recent seasons.
Fernandes has paid tribute to the entire team for frustrating Jurgen Klopp’s team and even those who were not involved in the action: this is a squad game and everyone has a role to play.
“Well done from everyone today, and even the ones that didn't play - they did a great job through the week to push all the ones that played. That has to be the mindset for the team, that everyone is included, everyone is part of the team and even when they don't play they have a part to play.”
Fernandes has paid tribute to the entire team for frustrating Jurgen Klopp’s team and even those who were not involved in the action: this is a squad game and everyone has a role to play.
“The defence was amazing,”said Bruno. “From the back up to the forwards, it was a great game. We conceded a goal still and we don't want that, we want David [De Gea] to keep the clean sheets, but at the end of the day it was about getting three points and we knew it.
“Well done from everyone today, and even the ones that didn't play - they did a great job through the week to push all the ones that played. That has to be the mindset for the team, that everyone is included, everyone is part of the team and even when they don't play they have a part to play.”
Monday’s match was preceded by the official unveiling of our fourth summer Casemiro, and Fernandes is excited to link up with the former Real Madrid enforcer who is no stranger to success.
“I think Casemiro is a great player and will have add so many good things for us,”
said the Portuguese.
“We are very happy to have him. Obviously, we know he has a good mentality, we know he has shown it at Madrid and we hope he will do it at the same level as he did at Madrid.”