Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has shed light on Ruben Amorim’s latest conquest to revive Manchester United’s fortunes with a particular focus on effort, desire, and clinical finishing. The Red Devils have shown glimpses of improvement under Amorim, with a spirited draw against Liverpool and a penalty shootout win over Arsenal in the FA Cup. Yet, United's position in the Premier League, sitting 13th with just 23 points and 23 goals from 20 games, underscores the work still to be done. Bruno Fernandes in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, shed light on the ongoing revival under Ruben Amorim. Here are the best bits from the interview.
A Call for Goals
One key area Amorim has addressed is the team’s lack of goals upfront. Bruno acknowledged that Amorim has emphasized the need for better finishing, given the attacking talent in the squad.
Talking to Sky Sports, Bruno Fernandes said, “The manager has been telling us a lot that we have to score more goals. We have the capability. Players like Rasmus Hojlund, Josh Zirkzee, Amad, Garnacho, Rashford, Antony, and even our midfielders, can all contribute. We need more desire to get into the box and capitalize on our chances.”
Fernandes pointed out that Amorim’s assistant, Carlos, highlighted this before their recent FA Cup tie against Arsenal as well. The captain’s decisive goal in that match symbolized Amorim’s vision, an intense desire to attack combined with positioning discipline.
Training and Tactical Adaptation
Amorim’s implementation of his preferred 3-4-3 system has been another significant focus. Fernandes noted that training sessions have improved the players’ understanding of their roles and tactical demands.
“It helps when you have time to prepare. But the manager has been clear—it’s not just tactics. It’s about passion and desire. We’re starting to match the effort levels he expects, but there’s still room for improvement in both areas.” Fernandes said
The recent performances against Liverpool and Arsenal have shown an upgrade in intensity and defensive shape which are one of the most crucial elements of Amorim’s tactical blueprint. Against Arsenal, United played with defensive resilience despite Diogo Dalot’s red card and showed composure in the penalty shootout. Fernandes credited Altay Bayindir’s heroics and Zirkzee’s decisive penalty for keeping United alive in the competition.
A Mental Reset
Amorim’s focus on mentality has been instrumental. Fernandes admitted that a lapse in focus, even for a few seconds, can be costly in the Premier League.
“Against big teams like Liverpool, you’re naturally more aware of every detail. But in other games, we might disconnect mentally for a moment, and that’s enough to cause problems. Amorim has emphasized the need to maintain focus for every second of every game.”
With a crucial game against Southampton on the horizon, Fernandes emphasized on consistency. “We need to approach every match with the mentality that we need the points more than our opponents, It’s about setting a standard and sticking to it.”
Building Belief
Despite a difficult spell, Fernandes highlighted the team’s unwavering belief in Amorim’s methods. He dismissed the notion that their struggles were due to the manager’s system, instead attributing them to lapses in application.
“It’s easy to lose belief when results aren’t coming but we’ve stayed committed to the process. Amorim has a clear vision, and we’re starting to see the results. The system isn’t the issue, it’s about how much effort and passion we bring to each game.” Bruno added.
Turning Things Around?
United’s recent performances suggest they may be turning a corner, but Fernandes sounded cautious. He warned, “This isn’t just about playing well against big teams. We need to maintain the same intensity and focus against every opponent, regardless of their position in the table.”
Amorim’s approach, combining tactical clarity with effort and mentality, seems to be resonating well with the squad. As Fernandes put it, “We’re on the right path, but there’s still a lot of work to do. With the quality we have, there’s no reason we can’t achieve more.”
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