Man United captain Fernandes makes bold claim over their pre-season predictions
Really, Bruno? Man United captain Fernandes makes the bold claim that ‘no one thought we could be in the top six’ in pre-season predictions – despite their record summer spending of £220m
- Manchester United want to build on last season’s sixth place
- Erik ten Hag’s team is currently on course to finish within the top four
- Bruno Fernandes has claimed that people thought they were going backwards
Bruno Fernandes has made the bizarre claim that no one believed Manchester United would finish in the top six this season.
Erik ten Hag’s side are currently on course to finish in the top four, although there is still work to be done to ensure they do not fall out of the Champions League qualifiers behind Liverpool.
There is an improvement on last season when the Red Devils finished sixth after a miserable season in which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick failed to get the best out of the squad.
Despite the arrival of Ten Hag and their record summer spend of £220m, Fernandes has claimed that everyone thought they were going to slip from their league position last year.
He told Sky Sports“I think we have such a great team who have done a great job this season when no one thought Man United could fight for the top four.
Bruno Fernandes has claimed that no one believed that Manchester United would finish in the top six this season, meaning they would have moved backwards from last season.
His claim comes despite Manchester United spending £220 million last summer that included five-time Champions League winners Casemiro and Antony arriving at Old Trafford
A finish outside the top six would have meant Erik ten Hag would have brought the Red Devils back from their poor season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick
“We know everyone is now saying ‘Oh Man United were great’ but I remember no one put our team in the top six at the beginning of the season so I think it’s a good surprise for them but not for us.
“We knew we could be there, we know we could be even higher in the league.
“We had our moments and that’s why we’re in a position to fight for the top four and not for bigger things. But I think this club, these players will soon be fighting for much bigger things.’
Manchester United were expected to improve last season after last summer’s busy transfer window.
Five-time Champions League winners Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Antony, Christian Eriksen and Tyrrell Malacia have all joined the Red Devils and have improved their squad and many believed the Red Devils would battle for the top four.
They have held a Champions League spot for most of the season, although recent defeats to Brighton and West Ham have allowed Liverpool to close the gap to one point.
However, Ten Hag’s side still have a game to win against their closest rivals, and as long as they win three of their last four games, they are assured of a top four finish.
United could widen the gap to Jürgen Klopp’s side to four points against Wolves on Saturday, before Liverpool travel to relegation fighters Leicester City on Monday.
The Red Devils are currently on course to finish fourth, but could fall behind Liverpool if they fail to win two of their four remaining Premier League games this season.
