Bruno: We didn't take our chances

The Reds were much the dominant team during an entertaining first half as Bruno, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Raphael Varane all went close to scoring.

But a strike from Pape Sarr and Lisandro Martinez’s own goal in the second half gave Tottenham a 2-0 win.

Speaking to MUTV after the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, our captain believed the main reason the Reds lost the game was the chances we missed.

“We had many chances to score [a] goal,” he told Stewart Gardner. “Myself in [the] first half, I had a big chance that I have. I have to score in one [or] another way. I have to find a way to score that header. We didn't and after we conceded a goal in [the] early moment on the second half and, after the game [it] was difficult to come back.

“We still had [a chance against] a post [and] we had more chances on the counters that we could have done better on the last pass or on the last moment, but obviously today, differently than Wolves, we played much, much more football. We create more chances. We [were] not ruthless enough in our chances. We didn't score goals and we didn't get any points.”

Reflecting on the headed chance he passed up in the opening 45 minutes, Bruno admitted: “I looked too much at the goalkeeper instead of [focusing] on the ball and obviously, after the movement of the moment, I was too quick and I didn't get the ball the way I should get. But either way, I have to get that ball at least on the target.”

Bruno felt United were always in the game, even when trailing in the second half, but conceded that the opening goal swung the momentum in Spurs’ favour.

“Of course it [the feeling in the stadium] changed,” our Portuguese midfielder said. “They get the motivation, on their side [it] was higher. They get pushed by the fans. But either way we still had some chances where we could score, we didn't. And after, obviously you concede the second goal and starting from there on, you start to try to get one goal, you go with people in front, you give them some counters, you give them some moments to have the ball.

“But obviously they have quality, they have good players on the ball. They played a really good game. They are aggressive and in the second half, the last 20 minutes, they could control the game.

“We are in the game. We could feel that, at any moment, we could create something that could be a big chance for us. But I said we had the chances, but we have to take them. And I repeat myself, first of all, I had that chance, I have to put it in. I have to put the team in the lead and after, the game will be completely different.”

With almost full week to train and prepare for our next game against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford, Bruno believes there is plenty to ponder and work on.

“It’s about understanding what we did wrong in this game or we conceded the goals, what we can do better,” our no.8 added.

“Getting more ruthless when we are in front of the goal, understanding that we have to score that first goal. The meaning of [the] first goal as the manager speaks so, so many times, we have to have that meaning of the first goal and even more now that we play at home.

“We know always with our fans there, they will be there pushing for us. So I think we have to understand that we are in a good position. Still [it] is the beginning of the season. Obviously we don't want to lose points straight away, but we did then. [There is] nothing that we can do now, apart from going to the next game and get the three points.”