Bruno Fernandes criticized Manchester United’s lack of control in their 3-0 derby loss to Manchester City, stating all goals were avoidable. Mazraoui also expressed disappointment, emphasizing the need for improvement. The team faces pressure to address defensive issues and turn their season around.
Manchester United's captain, Bruno Fernandes, has voiced his frustration and disappointment following their recent 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City in the derby. Fernandes didn't hold back in his assessment, pinpointing a distinct lack of control as a major factor in the loss. He emphasized that each of the goals conceded at the Etihad Stadium could have been avoided, highlighting specific instances of defensive lapses and missed opportunities.
The first goal, a header from Phil Foden, stemmed from Jeremy Doku's ease in bypassing Luke Shaw on the flank. Doku was again involved in the build-up to Erling Haaland's opening goal, exploiting the space afforded by United's defensive setup. Haaland's second goal, a clinical breakaway finish, further underscored the defensive vulnerabilities plaguing the team. These defensive errors have added pressure to manager Erik Ten Hag.
"We have to be more in control of certain situations," stated Fernandes, reflecting the team's overall performance. "We conceded three goals that should have been avoided. And we keep creating chances to score, and we are not able to score as many as we wanted. What we did was not enough to get the result."
The loss to Manchester City leaves United in a precarious position, with a mere four points from their opening four Premier League games. This uninspiring start has ignited concerns among fans and pundits alike, raising questions about the team's direction and ability to compete at the highest level.
Fernandes acknowledged the need for immediate improvement, urging his teammates to learn from their mistakes and channel their focus towards upcoming fixtures. "All we have to take from this game is to look at what we need to do better and go forward to the next game. We need to score goals and not concede. It is the main thing of football," he asserted.
Noussair Mazraoui echoed Fernandes' sentiments, expressing his disappointment with United's derby performance. "I am feeling bad," the wing-back admitted. "[I'm] disappointed in myself, in the team, and disappointed for the fans that we couldn't bring the performance we did lately. A derby makes it more special, more emotional, so if you lose and you have played good and you have the chances we created in the last games, you can maybe accept it because there are still improvements. But [against City] was just not good enough."
Mazraoui stressed the importance of calm analysis and collective improvement. "It is hard to say [what went wrong] because you are always full of emotion straight after the game, so I try to calm down and analyse the game," he explained. "Otherwise, I will point fingers, and probably eventually, it is not [actually] the guys or something that I point out now. I will analyse it myself and [with the] team and try to improve."
The pressure is now mounting on Manchester United to address their defensive frailties, sharpen their attacking edge, and find a winning formula to turn their season around. With a series of challenging fixtures on the horizon, the team must demonstrate resilience, unity, and a renewed sense of purpose to restore confidence among their supporters and climb up the Premier League table.
Adding to the concerns, the absence of key players through injury and suspension has further compounded United's woes. Erik Ten Hag now faces the challenge of not only instilling tactical discipline and a winning mentality but also finding solutions to navigate the squad's limitations and extract the best possible performance from his available resources.
The coming weeks will be crucial for Manchester United as they strive to rediscover their identity, strengthen their cohesion, and prove their credentials as a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League. The road ahead may be fraught with challenges, but with determination, perseverance, and a collective commitment to excellence, United can emerge from this period of adversity stronger and more resilient than ever before.