Bruno Fernandes insists Man United’s season CANNOT be viewed as a success

Bruno Fernandes insists Manchester United’s season cannot be considered a success even if they do a domestic cup double on the basis of Champions League qualification.

United secured a place in the top four for Liverpool by beating Chelsea 4-1 on Thursday night. Manager Erik ten Hag already won the Carabao Cup in his first season at Old Trafford and he can add the FA Cup to that if United beat Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.

But it has been ten years since United won the Premier League title, and they have also failed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in that time. While Fernandes says it has been a ‘positive’ season, he believes a club of United’s stature should aim higher.

“We are very happy to play in the Champions League next season, but of course it is a kind of obligation for this club to be in these positions,” he said. “After we couldn’t fight for the national title anymore, we had to fight for our top four and we succeeded.

“But as players we are not happy with just the top four. We want more. We aim for more because we believe in this team that there are enough qualities to move forward.

The Red Devils won 4-1 against Chelsea on Thursday evening and secured a Champions League place

“It’s a positive season, not successful, because successful is different for this club and it should be for us players. We did win a trophy. We’re in the top four.

“Now we have another final, but whatever happened in that final will not change the season we did. One game cannot define a long season with so many games.

“We did very well and of course we had our moments when we could have done better because otherwise we would be in a better position than we actually are.

But still we went to win the Carabao Cup, we are in the final of the FA Cup, in the Europa League could have been better, but it is what it is. Now we have the chance to finish in the best way at home against Fulham and after we’ve had time to think about City.’

Fernandes insists he always believed United could secure a place in the Champions League, even after losing their first two games under Ten Hag to Brighton and Brentford and endured a 7-0 humiliation at the hands of Liverpool.

Luke Shaw reiterated that Manchester United should be fighting for the title in the coming campaign

“Of course,” he added. “I think everyone was aware that it was very important for us to get into the top four. I think at the same time everyone was really convinced that we’re going to do it.

“It’s probably the best European competition you have. It’s the league everyone dreams of playing. It’s a great league, it’s fantastic with the best clubs in the world, so it’s really good to be back.

“Liverpool was the game that changed everything. Because of the result of course, but even before that, after the game against Brentford away, everyone understood that we had to do better because we had the qualities to do much better.

“The faith has always been there because we believed in the manager’s ideas from the beginning, in the players we have, from the beginning of the season to the end. That’s why we’re getting this position.’