Bruno Fernandes has apologised for Manchester United’s humiliating defeat to Bournemouth, admitting that his team did not put up enough effort or quality.
On Saturday, United suffered their first home defeat against lowly Bournemouth, who raced to a 3-0 triumph.
Erik ten Hag’s team was so awful that the margin of defeat could have been even more embarrassing, but the result was bad enough that fans booed at the final whistle.
As the heat increases on Ten Hag, United captain Fernandes says the players must accept responsibility for the poor performance.
“I’d like to apologise for my performance. It was unacceptable, beginning with myself. “I’m not referring to anyone else,” he clarified.
“But I think everyone in the locker room agrees that the performance was (not) at our level, and we need to perform much better.”
“It was underperforming in terms of quality, effort, and aggression compared to our last game against Chelsea.”
“If you don’t do your job, you’re not going to win the game.”
United have lost 11 of their 23 games this season in all competitions.
After the Bournemouth game, Ten Hag said that he did not believe his side have the quality to be consistent at the highest level.
Fernandes was at a loss to explain why United had been unable to maintain a consistent run of form.
“I don’t know (why it was so different to Chelsea) but it’s been consistently like (this),” Fernandes was quoted as saying by MUTV.
“When we win a game, we don’t perform as well in the following game.”
“I’m not sure if it’s a lack of concentration or focus or something else, but we have to be aware that after winning a game, we have to maintain that consistency of winning games.”
“Even sometimes (if we are) underperforming but getting the result.”
United have limited time to find a solution as they prepare for Tuesday’s crucial Champions League match against Bayern Munich, with the Red Devils only progressing if they win and Copenhagen and Galatasaray draw.
Then comes a trip to Liverpool in the Premier League next Sunday, which Fernandes will miss after receiving his fifth booking of the season against Bournemouth.
“Obviously we know that now the next game is going to be really tough,” Fernandes told reporters.
“We need to win and obviously hope for a good result in the other game.”
“But first and foremost, we have to do our job, and thinking and understanding that this is going to be a difficult game for us.”
“But we are capable, more than able, to get the result.”