Manchester United 'can’t hide' from Premier League title ambitions, even after nightmare season - Bruno Fernandes exclusive

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Bruno Fernandes says Manchester United must never lose sight of chasing Premier League titles - even after a season to forget. The captain praised the fans' belief as United prepare for the UEFA Europa League final against Tottenham, where a UEFA Champions League spot is up for grabs. Fernandes also pointed to Federico Macheda as proof that one moment can define a legacy at Old Trafford.

Fernandes: ‘Belief’ has inspired Man Utd run to Europa League final

Video credit: TNT Sports

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes says the club "can't hide" from their ambition to win the Premier League, as they look to end a dismal domestic season with a UEFA Europa League triumph over Tottenham Hotspur.

Despite a horror show at home, United have enjoyed a memorable European campaign. Unbeaten in the UEFA Europa League, they stunned Lyon with three goals in the final seven minutes of a wild quarter-final, before thrashing Athletic Club 7-1 on aggregate to crush hopes of a home final in Bilbao.

The showdown in Spain - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on May 21 - pits 16th against 17th in the Premier League, with the considerable carrot of a UEFA Champions League place for the victors.

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Fernandes acknowledged United had fallen far short of expectations in the league but credited the fans for inspiring their continental run.

"We felt in the Europa League, the atmosphere from the fans, they always felt we could go to the end of this competition and win it," Fernandes told TNT Sports' Owen Hargreaves.

"And obviously in the Premier League we started going behind, and behind, and behind, and they felt 'we can't get much more of what we want from the Premier League'.

"Because at United, you don't want to be in the top four. You want to win the Premier League. That's the aim and we can't hide from that. It's the past of the club, it's the history of the club, and it has to be the present and the future of this club, always fighting for that trophy.

"But as soon as they [the fans] understood that in the Europa League we could go further, we felt that, the togetherness in every game.

"I think the Lyon game is the pinnacle of everything. In seven minutes, you can turn around three goals, it's something unbelievable and probably not seen many times.

"It was that little bit of belief that everyone else had that probably in the Premier League we wouldn't have had in a normal game."

Federico Macheda and taking 'split second' chance

Fernandes, who already boasts a bulging Old Trafford highlights reel, pointed to former United striker Federico Macheda as a perfect example of why players must seize their moment.

United were wobbling in the 2008/09 title race when a 17-year-old Macheda came off the bench against Aston Villa and fired a superb late winner. He scored the winner in United's next game too, but netted just twice more before leaving in 2014 after a succession of loan spells.

Despite that, he has a special place in United's history as his moment of magic provided the impetus for them to pip Liverpool to the title.

"As players, we need to think: anything at this club this good [makes small gesture with fingers] becomes massive in the future," said Fernandes.

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"People get recognised for a lot of things. For example, let's talk about Federico Macheda. He scored two goals in two games straight away, but the first one...

"He didn't end up having the career that everyone probably expected him to have, for many reasons, but everyone remembers him for that goal. At this club, from a split second you can get a memory for life - not only for yourself, but for the fans.

"Every time you have an opportunity to win a trophy, to do something great, you just have to understand that a minimum thing you do great here is going to become massive. When you get this small thing right, it drives you off."

Stream the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League final live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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