Bruno Fernandez accused Manchester United of being “lazy” in their final preseason tour match, claiming that additional signatures must be brought before the new campaign begins. United secured a 2-2 draw with Everton at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, winning the Premier League Summer Series, which previously beat West Ham and Bournemouth.
Featuring the entire 90 minutes, Fernandez scored the opening goal from a penalty spot, but Reuben Amorim’s team surrendered the advantage twice, prompting a fierce response from the captain. “It’s been improved, but that’s not where we want it,” Fernandez said. “It’s a soccer game, and there’s always passion there. No matter what happens, it happens. There was nothing spicy in there. It’s normal, it’s part of the game.
“It’s positive (US tour) and building bonds with players is good. Today it seemed a little lazy, so we need to change that.
“I don’t know about it. I’m not involved in it. But obviously, there was more competition for the players here. We all needed more quality to step up a little more and do more to get into the starting lineup.
United concluded the previous season with a brooding 15th place finish, marking the worst finish in 50 years, and Fernandez acknowledged that changing attitudes and mentality was essential after such a shambolic campaign.
“It’s all the details, and every little detail is important,” emphasized Fernandez. “This football club can’t do anything off the pitch or off the pitch because it’s too big in the world to be punished.
“At this club, the culture here was winning, so we need to get it back, and I think it was always there, not just the winning mentality we needed, but if you obviously can’t win, you won’t show it.
“The club is trying to improve other things. The facilities have tried to improve, the teams, staff, a lot of things. A lot of people struggled with this and many people who worked at the club have had to continue for years.
“Fans are paying more for tickets and are grateful for all the effort they put into us, so now it’s up to us to pay it back on the pitch.”
Amorim has expressed his approval of Fernandez’s honest remarks, indicating that his captain has acknowledged the extensive work United need to compete for the highest honors. “We’re happy that players have that feeling,” Amorim said.
“They say they understand the situation, so that’s a good feeling. They understand that everything is ups and downs at this club.
