Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has apologised for the side’s performance after they were soundly beaten 3-0 at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.
The Red Devils appeared to be back on track after beating Chelsea in midweek, even sweeping the Premier League’s monthly awards for November; Erik ten Hag was named Manger of the Month, Harry Maguire Player of the Month and Alejandro Garnacho claimed the Goal of the Month.
But all that good work was forgotten about just five minutes into Saturday’s game at Old Trafford as Lewis Cook snatched possession, burst forward and squared for Dominic Solanke to guide home.
Although United dominated possession they created few chances of note and Bournemouth bagged two more goals in the space of five second-half minutes to secure their first ever win at the Theatre of Dreams, with Philip Billing and Marcos Senesi both netting towering headers.
Fernandes, who was booked late on and will now miss next weekend’s trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, looked distraught with the result afterwards and was at a loss to explain United’s lack of consistency.
Asked for his reaction, the United skipper told MUTV: ‘Just apologise, the performance we did today was not acceptable.
‘Starting with me, I’m not talking about anyone else, but I think everyone agrees in the dressing room that our performance was not at our level and we have to perform much better.’
Asked why the side failed to replicate their excellent display against Chelsea, he continued: ‘I don’t know. But it’s been consistent that when we win a game we don’t perform in the next one in the same way we did before.
‘I don’t know if it’s a lack of concentration or focus or something else, but it’s something that we have to be aware of that after winning a game we have to get that consistency of winning again – even sometimes underperforming but getting the result.
‘We underperformed quality-wise and effort-wise, not as aggressive as we were against Chelsea in the last game.
‘Against a team like Bournemouth, really tough to play against, they go really strong, they press with good intentions, it’s tough if you don’t do your job, you’re not going to win the game.’
Next up, United host Bayern Munich – who actually lost 5-1 to Frankfurt on Saturday – and must win the match and hope results go their way elsewhere in order to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Asked if it is a good thing to have two huge tests now, Fernandes added: ‘Of course it’s good, we know the next game is going to be really tough.
‘We have to win, and obviously waiting for a good result in the other game. But we have to do our job first of all, thinking and understanding that it’s going to be tough for us, but we are more than able to get the result.’
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