Fernandes: We need Old Trafford on fire against Barca
Bruno Fernandes believes the Old Trafford atmosphere can help power Manchester United to victory against Barcelona this evening, like it did against Liverpool and Manchester City earlier in the season.
The Reds host the Catalan powerhouse in the second leg of a Europa League knockout round play-off tonight, with the tie tantalisingly poised at 2-2 following last week's classic at the Nou Camp.
It's a huge test for Erik ten Hag's Reds, but Bruno is confident that players and fans can combine to create another rousing victory – as we have already done against many of the Premier League's top sides this season.
Indeed, in a new interview with United legend Rio Ferdinand for BT Sport, Fernandes points to the games against Liverpool and City as the two biggest turning points in Ten Hag's debut campaign.
Rio x Bruno: Between the Lines Video
Rio x Bruno: Between the Lines
Between The Lines | Watch all 21 minutes of Rio's fascinating touch-screen conversation with Bruno for BT Sport...
“For me, the key moment of this season is the Liverpool game,” assesses Bruno. “I think that is the main moment for us, because we come from two really bad results [against Brighton and Brentford].
“And then we got that win. The stadium was once again on fire; it was an unbelievable atmosphere that the fans created for us.”
United were a different, more confident beast by the time champions Manchester City rocked up in January. But according to our no.8, the atmosphere was once again crucial in enabling Ten Hag and co to pass another significant test.
“Obviously this game was that [next] step. Everyone thought: 'Now it's City. Now it's the team that plays the best football in the last five or six years in England. Let's see if they can deal with that.'
“And we did. We did really well. We won that game and I think we showed a lot of passion and a lot of character and a lot of quality too; knowing how to defend against a team that plays really good football.
“They've been together for so many years, they have a good connection. But knowing when we have to press them, when we have to stay a little bit low, when we have to counter, when we have to keep the ball... we did it very well.”
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Fernandes, who has been thriving under Ten Hag this season, believes the team and the crowd are now able to sense and seize the big moments.
“Obviously we were 1-0 down [against City] and we had the draw at that moment [after I equalised].
“We felt in the game that the fans are behind us, the momentum now [is with us], the stadium was on fire. We felt: we can win this game.”
Matchday Q&A | Ten Hag on Barcelona (H) Video
Matchday Q&A | Ten Hag on Barcelona (H)
Our interview with Erik is essential viewing before tonight's blockbuster fixture at Old Trafford...
The Portuguese playmaker hopes for a similar outcome against the Spaniards in M16 tonight, in what is the start of a crucial period in our season, with the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United to follow on Sunday.
Erik ten Hag has issued a rallying cry to United's fans ahead of the Barcelona match. Like Bruno, the Dutchman believes Old Trafford is among the Reds' biggest weapons.
“We are all on a journey together, moving forward game by game and, tonight, we need the fans, as well as the players, to be at the top of their game, if we are to create a memorable night at Old Trafford,” he told the official matchday programme, United Review.
Manchester United v Barcelona is live on BT Sport 2 from 19:00 GMT.
Manchester United v Barcelona is live on BT Sport 2 from 19:00 GMT.
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