Fernandes urges Amorim to follow Ferguson example after late Man Utd heroics
Bruno Fernandes scored Manchester Unitd's late winner in their 2-1 victory over Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday evening, with the strike the latest in a long line of late winners
Bruno Fernandes scored Manchester Unitd's late winner in their 2-1 victory over Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday evening, with the strike the latest in a long line of late winnersBruno Fernandes grabbed United's late winner against Rangers (
Image: Getty Images)
Bruno Fernandes has advised Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim to buy a new watch - and preferably a timepiece that measures Fergie-time.
Fernandes became the latest United player to come up with a dramatic late winner for the Reds when his thumping volley secured a Europa League victory over Rangers at Old Trafford on Thursday night. And, despite the trials and tribulations that Amorim’s side have faced so far this season, his players have still evoked memories of when Sir Alex Ferguson ’s teams often struck decisively at the death.
Joshua Zirkzee, Amad Diallo, Rasmus Hojlund and now Fernandes have all produced late, late shows for United. And Fernandes said: “I think since I have been at this club that (scoring late) has always been a part of things.
“Since I’ve been here we always talk about Sir Alex’s time, you know, when he looks at his watch and United will grab a goal for sure. I don’t know if the manager has a watch to look at - but obviously we need to have that belief and even more because we knew we still had two or three minutes to play.
“So you have to try and go forward to get a goal because you can only win games at this club - nothing less is expected of you. Of course, we know we are not in the position this club was many, many years ago and that we have a long, long way to go as a team.
Ruben Amorim has already seen United score a number of late goals (
Image:
James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
“But we are on our path. We know it won’t be as easy as United made it look because obviously they had great players in the past - and a great manager who led the club to many trophies.
“But we have to make our own way. As tough as it is, and as difficult as it can be, we are going to fight for this club to try and make it back.”
Amorim will welcome his captain’s message of defiance ahead of the difficult trip to face Fulham at Craven Cottage. United have lost five of their 11 Premier League games since Amorim took over in November and are facing a battle not to get sucked into a relegation fight.
Sir Alex Ferguson's teams were masters of scoring late goals (
Image:
Corbis via Getty Images)
The Reds' boss suggested the squad he inherited from Erik ten Hag in November were in danger of being remembered as the worst team in the club’s history in the aftermath of last weekend’s 3-1 home defeat to Brighton.
And it looked like their European hopes would suffer a serious blow when Rangers equalised late on - only for Fernandes to win the game with a textbook volley from Lisandro Martinez’s cross.
Fernandes said: ”I think we controlled the game and could have scored more goals if we were a little more aggressive in the last third.
“We had full control of it, with a goal from a set-piece, but then they scored a great goal from their striker to be honest.
“I was very relieved. Just of hitting the target, that’s just my only thought. I tried to hit it as clean as I could - and luckily it went in.”
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