In the third round of the Champions League group stage, Manchester United suffered a 4-1 away defeat to Como. After the match, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes spoke to Sky Sport Italia about the team's poor performance, his frustration at being substituted, and the club's struggles in recent years. He stated bluntly that Manchester United cannot continue to dwell on past glories, and everyone at the club must face reality.
Reporter: We are now joined by Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. It's worth noting that Bruno speaks Italian fluently, but the club has asked him to answer in English. Bruno, that was an incredibly tough night. Fans left early, and the scoreline was heavy. I want to ask you: what did you feel on the pitch? As someone who deeply loves this club, represents Manchester United, is captain, and has a deep connection with it, what were your inner feelings?
Bruno Fernandes: Obviously, this is a very difficult moment for us. We didn't get the points we wanted, and we didn't achieve the result we needed. But the most important thing is that we didn't play to the standard we expect of ourselves, and we didn't meet the demands we set.
Unfortunately, we are in a difficult situation that we can't seem to escape, and we must take action to turn it around and start winning again, because that is crucial.
Reporter: When you were substituted, you walked past my broadcast booth, and you looked very angry. I completely understand that frustration. I want to know if that emotion was more about not being able to change the course of the game, or if it was because you still wanted to stay on the pitch and fight alongside your teammates?
Bruno Fernandes: It was a bit of both. Obviously, no one likes to be substituted, especially when the result is so bad. It was an extremely difficult game for us; we could barely keep possession of the ball. We lacked options in our passing and couldn't effectively maintain possession or advance into the opponent's half.
They showed great intensity with their man-to-man pressing, and we never matched that. We gave them too much space between our defensive lines, allowing them to pass comfortably and creating many scoring opportunities.
Reporter: This might be Manchester United's toughest two weeks in nearly forty years. Lisandro Martinez's post-match comments caused an uproar, and the results have only made things worse. As someone at the heart of the club, how can the team overcome this current slump? What are the true feelings of you players?
Bruno Fernandes: Everyone at the club must understand that times have changed. We can no longer dwell on past glories; we must look to the future and create a new path forward. I think this club is too obsessed with its past history and glory, but we are no longer the same team we were back then. Everyone at the club must recognize this, and the players must understand it deeply.
For us players, the harsh reality is that every time you join this club, your goal is to win trophies, win games, and compete at the highest level. But unfortunately, in recent years, it has become incredibly difficult to do so at this club, and that is the cold reality we face right now.
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