Fernandes: We want to finish as high as possible

After a quiet first 45 minutes, second-half goals from Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko helped us to a 3-1 win over the Villans, with Ross Barkley's equaliser at 1-1 rendered little more than a consolation goal.

That saw us establish a three-point cushion in third and, after our crosstown rivals Manchester City drew away at West Ham United a day earlier, reduced the gap to second to seven points.

Those results have given our captain the confidence to start looking further up the table.

"At the end of the day, we'll see where we finish, and if we can finish second, even better," our captain told MUTV after the game.

"Even though it wouldn't change much what we are getting next season, we want to finish as high as possible, that's obvious."

Although our first scorer, Casemiro, has already announced he'll be departing Old Trafford at the end of the season, the Brazilian has grafted this term to give us the best chance of UEFA Champions League football this season.

After the Villa game, the 34-year-old boasts seven Premier League goals, the most he's managed in any one season at Old Trafford, since he joined in 2022.

Five of those, including Sunday's header against Unai Emery's side, have been teed up by Bruno himself, which makes it the most fruitful relationship from any club in this current campaign.

"I told him he should give me a bonus or something like that," Bruno laughed. "He said, 'You should give me a bonus because I'm getting you assists for that!'

"But I'm very pleased that I have a very good connection with him in these type of situations, he moves very well into the positions he wanted.

"His timing is perfect and the way he heads the ball is very good.

"It makes me very happy he gets goals and I get assists, but I'm just happy he gets the goals for us."