Manchester United
Fernandes on captaincy: passion, preparation and dealing with critics
Bruno Fernandes defends on-pitch passion, showing how preparation and memory underpin his captaincy.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has taken a clear line on criticism of his demeanour, insisting he accepts people will form opinions about him and that his visible intensity is part of his game. The remarks came ahead of the derby against Manchester City and were given to BBC Sport.
“Everything I include myself in I just like to go with myself at full,” Fernandes told BBC Sport. “I don’t like doing things at half. Football was the main thing and I always wanted to go full for it.
What you see on the pitch is what Bruno is like—the passion I put into everything. I am much more calm away from the pitch—I don’t have the emotions on the skin as much as I have on the pitch. But still very passionate in everything I do.”
The Portugal international acknowledged scrutiny has followed him but said he will not alter the way he shows emotion during matches. He emphasised that public judgement is inevitable and that diversity of opinion is natural.
“People have an opinion about me and I can’t change that. That’s the way people want to judge you about what they see on the pitch or the television or interviews. I can’t change that.
“They have the freedom to think the way they want about me as I have the freedom to think about them. I don’t judge people until I know them. They can have an opinion about me, that’s fine—we all have an opinion and that’s why life is so good and so different. If we all think the same way it would be so boring.”
Fernandes also outlined how that intensity translates into the practical demands of captaincy inside the United dressing room and on the training ground. He described a focus on the team’s objective during matches and the mental work required to store set-piece plans and positional details.
“During the game I just think about the goal we have for the game which is to win,” he said. “I remember every step that we have trained and that my teammates have to do and I remember every position they have to do.
“When I go to a training session I focus not only on what I have to do but what is around me because it can change, I have to play a different position or a teammate could not be aware of where he has to be or which position he should stay.
“On set-pieces, I know exactly where everyone has to be. The only nervous thing is getting everything into my memory so I can remember in the game every step. Also, when I’m on the ball I know every movement my teammates have to do. To be aware of, ‘I’m on the ball here so this is what we trained’—but you have to think that in a split second. It gets automatic because I think about that during the week until the game. When you think so many times about something your muscle memory works by itself.”
Man Utd
Mbeumo: Players, Not Amorim’s System, Must Own Man Utd’s Form
Bryan Mbeumo rejects tactical blame for Man Utd struggles and says players must improve together….
Bryan Mbeumo has pushed back on the notion that Ruben Amorim’s tactical setup is the root cause of Manchester United’s early issues. Signed this summer to help United adapt to the new arrangement after operating both as a striker and a winger in a similar role at Brentford, Mbeumo urged focus on the squad’s response rather than the system itself.
“It’s a little different for me,” he told Sky Sports. “I’ve played this system in the past as well.” Mbeumo argued that external criticism should not distract the players from finding positives and fixing details on the pitch.
His remarks follow similar comments from defender Matthijs de Ligt, who has asked team-mates to shoulder more responsibility for results instead of directing blame at Amorim. Mbeumo expanded on that position, emphasising collective accountability.
“I think everyone in the team needs to take responsibility,” Mbeumo continued. “When you play in a club this big, everyone needs to know what to do. As a team, we need to do better.” The forward made clear he sees the issues as fixable and linked to the squad adapting to each other rather than a fundamental flaw in tactical shape.
Despite the turbulence surrounding the club’s start, Mbeumo said his early months at Old Trafford have been positive. He highlighted the challenge of building combinations with new team-mates and expressed confidence in improvement as players grow accustomed to each other.
“It’s exciting, because we get to learn to play with new players and it’s always challenging, but that’s what we like as footballers,” he added. “Of course it will improve, we haven’t played a lot together, so there are certain things that we’re going to improve, and there are different types of players, but it’s good to be with them.”
Manchester United
Tyrell Malacia Rejoins Manchester United First-Team Training
Malacia returns to United first-team training after Elche move collapsed late in the summer window..
Tyrell Malacia has been recalled to Manchester United’s senior group after failing to complete a summer exit. The left back had been close to a move to Elche late in the window, but that transfer collapsed at the eleventh hour, leaving the Dutch defender at Old Trafford.
According to reports, Ruben Amorim has “reintegrated” Malacia into the first-team setup and the player will soon return to training at Carrington with the senior squad. Until now Malacia had been working with the Under-21s as he rebuilt fitness following a long spell out.
When he rejoins the senior group he will be part of a left-back cohort that includes Patrick Dorgu, Diego León and Luke Shaw, although Shaw has been utilised as a centre back this season. The decision to bring Malacia back is not thought to stem from injury problems in the squad or the club’s poor start, with the Red Devils having lost four of their opening seven matches in all competitions this season.
Malacia arrived at United from Feyenoord in a move valued at £13 million ($17.6 million), one of Erik ten Hag’s Eredivisie signings. His progression at the club has been derailed by injuries. He missed the entirety of the 2023–24 season with a knee injury and, since returning from treatment, has managed just eight appearances for United.
The collapsed switch to Elche leaves Malacia with a fresh opportunity to re-establish himself within the senior group. Training with the first team under Amorim will allow the left back to continue his recovery in the club environment and compete for minutes alongside the other options available to the coaching staff.
Manchester United
Cunha’s Stark Dressing-Room Verdict After 3–1 Defeat Highlights Deeper Issues
‘Horrible. Honestly, horrible,’ Matheus Cunha said after United’s 3–1 defeat urging team to improve
Matheus Cunha delivered a blunt assessment of the mood inside the dressing room after Manchester United’s 3–1 loss to Brentford on Saturday. The summer signing said the state of the squad after the defeat was clear and unsettling.
“Horrible. Honestly, horrible,” he told TNT Sports. “I always say the same, we know how important it is to play for a club like this one and we go for every game to win. For it not to end like that, it is a horrible feeling. Everyone wanted to do more, everyone needs to do more. Of course, we need to go again, that’s only the way.
“Honestly, trying to find excuses, I don’t think is the way. We know what you need to do. I don’t think we did well. They were more fit, they arrived and scored goals, but like I say, that is not an excuse.”
Cunha was signed to inject life into an attack that has struggled. He was brought in to revitalise a stagnant attack alongside Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško but has yet to record a goal involvement. Among the three summer signings, they have managed just two goals.
The trio started together for the first time this season. The Slovenian scored his first goal and Mbeumo won a penalty, but captain Bruno Fernandes failed to convert from the spot for the second time this season.
Results like Saturday’s have intensified scrutiny over the coaching situation. Questions surrounding Amorim’s future are likely to continue given the continued struggles. Players like Harry Maguire have previously cited the benefit of a full preseason under the Portuguese boss over the summer, though the defence continues to be a worry.
Manchester United now host Sunderland on Oct. 4 before the next international break, then face league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on their return. In goal, Senne Lammens is still awaiting a debut as Altay Bayındır keeps the starting spot following the loan departure of André Onana.
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