Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes revealed that he apologized to former manager Erik ten Hag following the Dutchman’s dismissal from the club. Ten Hag was sacked by United after a 2-1 defeat to West Ham in the Premier League on October 27, with Ruud van Nistelrooy stepping in as interim manager.
Van Nistelrooy has managed two games so far, starting with a 5-2 victory over Leicester City in the EFL Cup. His second game saw United secure a 1-1 draw against Chelsea in a Premier League clash at Old Trafford on Sunday, November 3. After the match, Fernandes, who scored United’s only goal, spoke to Sky Sports (via Metro) about Ten Hag’s departure, stating:
“I spoke to the manager [Ten Hag] and apologized to him if there was something I could have done better for him. I was disappointed he has gone and I tried to help him.”
“I wasn’t scoring goals, we are not scoring goals, and I feel responsible because I normally score a lot of goals, but I always gave 100% to help. The main thing is that he is aware of that.”
United has struggled with scoring this season, being one of the lowest-scoring teams in the Premier League. With just nine goals in 10 games, they trail only Crystal Palace (eight) and Southampton (seven) for the fewest goals scored. Fernandes has also faced challenges in front of the net, scoring three goals and providing five assists in 15 appearances across all competitions. Interestingly, all three of his goals came after Ten Hag’s exit; Fernandes scored twice against Leicester and converted a penalty against Chelsea.
Fernandes also spoke about how Ten Hag’s departure impacted the United dressing room.
Reflecting on the mood of the team after the Chelsea game, he told Sky Sports (via Metro):
“We know that Erik [ten Hag] has gone, it is not good for anyone at the club when the manager goes. It means the team is not the best, the results are not the best, and he is the one who pays for it.”
“Whenever you see a manager go, you have to take some of the blame on yourself and look in the mirror first because it is because the team is not doing so well. 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.”
Ruben Amorim is set to take charge as Manchester United’s head coach from November 11. Until then, Fernandes and his teammates will hope to change the club’s trajectory in their upcoming matches.
