Bruno Fernandes shoulders partial blame for Erik ten Hag sacking at Manchester United - 'You need to look in the mirror'
Published 03/11/2024 at 20:37 GMT
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Captain Bruno Fernandes says Manchester United's players have to accept they are also at fault for the club's poor form. A 1-1 draw against Chelsea means The Red Devils remain in the bottom half of the Premier League. It was their first game in the top flight since the sacking of Erik ten Hag. Fernandes has revealed he has apologised to the Dutchman for his dismissal.
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Bruno Fernandes admitted Manchester United's players had to "look in the mirror" after Erik ten Hag's sacking.
The Dutchman left Old Trafford after last week's dismal 2-1 defeat to West Ham United.
The Red Devils have responded by dumping Leicester City out of the Carabao Cup, before holding Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.
That result still leaves the club in 13th place in the Premier League, having accumulated only 12 points from their opening 10 games.
Fernandes told Sky Sports that it was always easier to dismiss the manager than the squad, but insisted his team-mates were also to blame for the poor form.
"Every week is challenging here at the club," he said. "It doesn't matter if you win or you lose.
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"Obviously it's a different week because we all know that Erik has gone and it's not good for anyone at the club when a manager goes.
"It means that the position and where the team is is not the best and the results are not the best. It ends up that the manager is the one that pays.
"We are obviously all disappointed by that, because whenever you see a manager go, you always have to take a little bit of the blame on yourself, because you need to look in the mirror first.
"If he goes, it is because the team are not doing so well and everyone as individuals has to look at themselves first."
Ten Hag took the reins at Old Trafford in 2022, and lifted two trophies during his time in England - the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup.
It was during Ten Hag's tenure that Fernandes took the armband as Red Devils captain. And the Portuguese midfielder said he had phoned the Dutchman to apologise for his dismissal.
"We all know that when the manager leaves, everyone is involved, but only one pays, because it is easier to get rid of a manager than 15 players," he added.
"Obviously, I spoke with the manager after all the things. I apologised to him, if there is something that I could have done better for him.
"I feel really disappointed that he's gone. Obviously I wasn't scoring goals, and that's a big thing for me and the team. We're not scoring many goals.
"I feel a big responsibility on that, because I'm normally a player that scores a lot of goals, gives a lot of assists, and it was not coming.
"I feel disappointed on that, but I always gave my 100% to help him and the main thing is that he's aware of that and it's something that I can keep in my head."
Sporting CP head coach Ruben Amorim will replace Ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout.
However, he will not take over until November 11, meaning Ruud van Nistelrooy will remain in interim charge for the UEFA Europa League clash with PAOK on Thursday and next week's Premier League meeting with Leicester.
The former United striker was at the helm for the 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
He said the game, which was his first as a Premier League boss, was an occasion he will never forget, but also told Sky Sports that he had not spoken to Amorim about his own future with the club.
"It's special," he smiled. "I enjoyed every second of it and I will do so for the time being. I'm here to help. After that, even more. I will get behind the new manager and make sure the club grows.
"We have to continue on the Leicester performance and on the Chelsea performance, and after that, we get behind him and work hard to make Manchester United better every day.
"I think over the coming days or weeks, everything will be in communication and talked about. I'm waiting for that.
"I don't know [when I will speak to Amorim]. But it will happen. For the time being, I focus on my job."
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