BRUNO FERNANDES backed Ruben Amorim’s blast at his stumbling stars and stressed: You’ve got to have the balls to play for Manchester United.
Boss Amorim caused a storm last week when he branded United’s fall-guys the worst side in the club’s history.
RexBruno Fernandes says Man Utd must handle the pressure better[/caption]
GettyRuben Amorim’s astonishing blast ‘inspired’ Fernandes[/caption]
He later admitted he went too far — yet Fernandes reckons he was bang on.
And the Red Devils skipper said: “The reality is to play here you have to have that pressure, you have to have the balls to play for this club — that is what it is.
“You have to feel that in every moment in every game it is a new chance to bring us back to the position we deserve.
“Unfortunately for us this season there have been too many ups and downs and every time we look like getting there, we get punched again and go down.
“What we have to do is every time we take a punch and go down, we must get up and try to punch back.”
Fernandes certainly did that with his last-gasp winner in a dramatic Europa League clash with Rangers on Thursday.
And he admitted Amorim’s outburst after last weekend’s 3-1 loss to Brighton inspired him to those final-second heroics.
Fernandes added: “I don’t want to hear my manager saying certain things about the team because I know he doesn’t feel it.
“But he made himself part of that and when the manager makes himself part of what he’s saying, no one can get angry or disappointed by it.
“When he says ‘the worst team in Manchester’, he speaks about the position we are in and when you look at where we are in the league we ARE in the worst position we’ve ever been.
“So you have to take it, that’s the reality unfortunately. We are in this position for a long time and the club doesn’t belong there.
“But we have to accept that and understand we need to push ourselves to much bigger things and higher positions.”
Man Utd ratings: Bruno Fernandes captain fantastic in last-gasp win but Harry Maguire asleep in dreadful cameo
MANCHESTER UNITED all but sealed automatic qualification to the last 16 of the Europa League thanks to a last-gasp win over Rangers.
The Red Devils welcomed the Scottish giants to Old Trafford in the penultimate group match of their European campaign on Thursday night.
And they took a giant step towards a top-eight finish thanks to a 2-1 win at Old Trafford.
A calamitous own second-half goal from Gers stopper Jack Butland broke the deadlock.
Cyriel Dessers thought he’d rescued a point for the visitors in the 88th minute before Bruno Fernandes broke the hearts of the travelling Teddy Bears four minutes later.
SunSport’s Ken Lawrence was in attendance for the Battle of Britain and is on hand to rate and slate the performances of Ruben Amorim‘s side.
Altay Bayindir – 7
The Turk is a better keeper than No 1 Andre Onana, especially dealing with corners.
Took a sore one colliding with Toby Collyer showing exactly that.
Leny Yoro – 5
The £52m central defender was deployed on the right side of Rubin Amorim’s three-man rearguard.
Youngster was shaky at times but looked better when he had the ball.
Matthijs de Ligt – 4
Terrible early touch stranded Toby Collyer – Nicolas Raskin’s even worse touch let him off the hook.
Hooked at the break – no surprise there, although Amorim said afterwards that he “felt something”.
Lisandro Martinez – 5
Once known as The Butcher of Amsterdam but he’s long lost that scary presence.
Another one who doesn’t look happy in the new system.
Amad Diallo – 7
Looks a bit different these days since his tough time on loan at Rangers three years ago.
Not on wonder-boy form this time but still a threat.
Toby Collyer – 6
Made his first appearance on a European stage and the boy done good.
The 21 year old is a very decent emerging midfielder.
Christian Eriksen – 6
Turns 33 next month and his legs aren’t really up to playing in centre midfield.
He’s always been a creator anyway but he dug in.
Diogo Dalot – 5
Started out on his wrong foot as a left wing back.
Switched midway through the second half and looked far more comfortable.
Bruno Fernandes – 9
You wonder if he drives himself as mad as he must do his manager at times. But scored a fantastic winner.
Joshua Zirkzee – 4
Ruben. He’s NOT a centre-forward.
Whatever £36m bought, it wasn’t a natural striker and it’s unfair to be playing him up there on his own.
Alejandro Garnacho – 8
Busy and focused – didn’t look like any talk of being sold to Chelsea was bothering him.
On this sparkling evidence United would be mad to let him go anywhere.
SUBS
Maguire (for De Ligt 46) 3 Totally asleep for Rangers’ equaliser.
Malacia (for Yoro 56) 5 : Looking happier now injury worries over
Ugarte (for Collyer 73) 5 : Put in a solid short spell.
Mainoo (Eriksen 73) 5 : Added strength and mobility.
Hojlund (for Zirkzee 82) 5 : Ran about a bit – he’s good at that.
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