Bruno Fernandes reveals Man Utd dressing room reaction to Jim Ratcliffe’s brutal comments

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has revealed that Manchester United’s dressing room must prove themselves following criticism from the club’s co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Bruno Fernandes has revealed that Manchester United’s stars cannot relax as they attempt to live up to the standards of Old Trafford.

The Portugal international has admitted that criticism from the likes of club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is difficult to hear, but that United’s stars must prove themselves to be important regardless of their contracts. INEOS chief Ratcliffe blasted the deals he had inherited upon investing in the club recently and described some current members of the squad as ‘overpaid and not good enough’.

“It takes time for us to move away from the past into a new place in the future,” he said. “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.”

Speaking after his talismanic performance secured the Red Devils a place in the Europa League last eight, United captain Fernandes called upon his team-mates to focus on football and improving themselves

“We need to prove ourselves every day in training, every day that we have a game,” he said. “We can’t relax at this club. You know that there’s a big standard, a big attention that you get from the media, from everywhere.

“You need to realise that sometimes you need to put your focus on your game, trying to improve yourself. It’s not nice to hear certain things obviously. I don’t think that any player likes to hear criticism or things that are talked about to you, that you’re not good enough or you’re overpaid or whatever.

“Everyone has their own contract. The club agrees to do the contracts at the time you come here or at the time you do a new contract or whatever and it’s about yourself proving that you can be important for the club.”

Fernandes scored a hat-trick of penalties as United progressed in the Europa League in a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad. The European competition remains the club’s only chance of success this term, as they sit in the bottom half of the Premier League.

Despite the club’s difficulties, the 30-year-old midfielder remains content with his decision to stay at United. Fernandes, who has scored 15 goals and made 13 assists this season, admitted he had the opportunity to leave in the summer but believed he could find success at Old Trafford.

“I sat with the club because I had an offer to leave, we talked about the possibility of me leaving the club or staying,” he said. “They said what they wanted from me. I just asked if they still see me as part of the future of the club or not.

“I spoke at the time with Ten Hag also. He was very clear with me, the club was very clear with me, that they thought I would be a big part of this rebuild that they want to do in a different way. I heard what they had to tell me. I thought that we could be successful. Unfortunately, we didn’t start the season very well. Erik had to lose his job by the results we had and the performance we had, but the fault was on everyone and everyone together with the manager.

“Now we are in a different moment with a new manager that thinks in a different way, that has a different way of playing. I’m still very happy at the club, I’m being always happy at the club to play for this club, to represent the club is a big honour for me. It doesn’t matter where we are in the league, it will always be an honour for me to be at this club and I will try my best to keep the club fighting for everything we can.”

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