Bruno Fernandes has hit out at his ‘lazy’ Manchester United teammates following the 2-2 pre-season draw against Everton on Sunday night.
The Red Devils won the Premier League Summer Series tournament – but put in an alarming performance as they twice threw away their lead.
Chatting with Sky Sports after the match, Fernandes, who scored United’s first goal and provided the assist for the second, worryingly admitted that the club still isn’t where it must be ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Fernandes: We didn’t need to finish in this manner
‘We didn’t need to finish in this manner,’ Fernandes said after the friendly against Everton. ‘Our performance wasn’t the perfect today off the ball.
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‘We looked a bit lazy today and we have now to avoid that. It’s improving [the club situation] but we aren’t where this club must be.’
Fernandes also played down his clash with Everton star Iliman Ndiaye – and says the pre-season tour of america has been worthwhile – with United having won their other two matches against AFC Bournemouth and West Ham, which was enough to land the Summer Series trophy.
‘It’s a game of football, there’s all the time passion there,’ Fernandes added.
‘Whatever happens, happens. There was nothing spicy there, it’s normal, it is an element of the sport
‘It’s positive [the United States tour] and it is nice to create a bond with the players.’
Amorim calls out Man Utd stars over Ndiaye goal
Meanwhile, speaking in his half-time interview, United head coach Ruben Amorim called out his players for Ndiaye’s goal on 40 minutes.
Manuel Ugarte lost the ball cheaply on the sting of his own penalty area and a cross to the far post found Ndiaye.
Ndiaye had made the run off the back of Fernandes – who fell asleep – and the Everton star applied the of completion to search out the far corner.
‘When Ugarte has the ball, you’ll be able to see the defence walking towards the box,’ Amorim told Sky Sports.
‘We’d like to sprint. When Ugarte loses the ball we have to be not less than on the sting of the box. These small details we’d like to enhance.’
United have yet another friendly left before the 2025-26 season gets underway as they tackle Italian side Fiorentina at home on Saturday.
The Red Devils face Arsenal of their opening match of the brand new Premier League campaign on August 17, trying to improve on a disastrous season last term as they finished fifteenth within the top-flight with out a trophy.
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