Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, praised Bruno Fernandes for his “personality” after the midfielder’s match-winning performance in the Europa League. Fernandes was criticised, along with his team-mates, after their 7-0 loss to Liverpool that saw him questioned as the team captain. However, he answered his critics by scoring and providing an assist in the match against Real Betis. Ten Hag was impressed with Fernandes’ contribution, calling him the “best player on the pitch”. The manager explained that Fernandes led the team from the beginning with his game, controlled the rhythm of the match, and added a goal to his night’s work.
Ten Hag, who recently took over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, acknowledged United’s three collapses in the Premier League this season, including the heavy defeat to Liverpool. He said that the performance at Anfield exposed the team’s recent issues that he had already been highlighting to the players. Ten Hag recognised that the team had become complacent and said that it’s not something that can happen in top football.
Despite the criticism, Ten Hag kept faith with the same team that lost to Liverpool and maintained the confidence of the players during the match against Betis. He defended his decision by saying it was the right lineup to face Betis and that the team had only lost once in the previous 23 games before the Liverpool match. Ten Hag expressed his frustration about the team’s recent performances before Liverpool, stating he was not happy with their showings against Newcastle and Leicester City.
Ultimately, Manchester United bounced back with a 3-1 victory over Betis, showing their resilience after a difficult game against Liverpool. Although some questions remain about the team’s consistency, Ten Hag is working to keep the players focused on their goals and improve their performances. The Dutch manager has made a positive start to his reign, and Fernandes’ contribution in the Europa League will undoubtedly boost his confidence and the team’s morale.
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