Bruno Fernandes has responded to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s claims that some Manchester United players are ‘not good enough’ and ‘overpaid’.
The Manchester United co-owner even namedropped big earners Rasmus Højlund, Andre Onana and Casemiro during an interview with Gary Neville on Monday.
In United’s first match since the revealing interview, the three players in question all started and delivered impressive performances in Thursday’s 3-1 Europa League victory over Real Sociedad.
United captain Fernandes netted all three goals against the Spaniards to book his side’s spot in the quarter-finals but focus quickly turned to Ratcliffe’s words after the full-time whistle.
The Portuguese launched a passionate defence of his teammates while opposing the Billionaire’s remarks.
“It’s not nice to hear certain things obviously,” said Fernandes. “I don’t think any player likes to hear criticism or things that are talked about; that you’re not good enough or you’re overpaid or whatever.
“Everyone has their own contract,” he added. “The club agrees to the contracts at the time you come here, or at the time you do a new contract, and it’s about proving that you can be important for the club.
“We can’t relax at this club. There’s a big standard, a big attention that you get from the media. You need to realise that sometimes you must put your focus on your game, trying to improve yourself.”
Fernandes admits he considered leaving Manchester United last summer before eventually signing a new three-year deal with the option of a further year.
“I sat with the club because I had an offer to leave, we talked about the possibility of me leaving the club or staying,” the United skipper said. “They said what they wanted from me. I asked if they still see me as part of the future of the club or not. I spoke at the time with [Erik] Ten Hag also.
“He was very clear with me, the club were very clear with me; that they thought I would be a big part of this rebuild that they want to do in a different way. I heard what they had to tell me. I thought that we could be successful.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t start the season very well. Erik had to lose his job by the results we had and the performance we had, but the fault was on everyone and everyone together with the manager.
“Now we are in a different moment with a new manager that thinks in a different way, has a different way of playing. I’m still very happy at the club.”
The 30-year-old has become a target from fans and former players in part due to a lack of leadership.
Earlier this week, ex-United midfielder Nicky Butt told talkSPORT that Fernandes’ often petulant antics would not have been accepted in past teams.
He said: “He wouldn’t have lasted a day in our training. He wouldn’t have, honestly. He wouldn’t have lasted a day in our training.
“Not me, not with some of the senior players. They wouldn’t have this throwing their arms about and undermining a player. It was like he would just get completely cleaned out and it would be.”
Last month former United captain Roy Keane said the Portuguese was ‘not a fighter’ but Fernandes stopped short of getting into a war of words with the Irishman.
Credit: YouTube: @theoverlapRoy Keane has been particularly critical of Fernandes[/caption]
“Everyone has an opinion and that’s fine,” he said. “I can’t change the mind of people. Roy Keane was an amazing captain for the club, one of the best. He’s massively respected and has all my respect.
“He has to give his opinion in a programme and this is what he thinks about me. What I’m doing on the pitch is to try to change his mind, or do something he probably sees as a good thing. Obviously I do it in my own way, I don’t want to copy anyone.
“I try to be the best captain that I can for my teammates. I try to help everyone in the best way I know. I have a lot of things to improve, not only as a captain but as a player, as a person, as a human being and that’s fine.
“Criticism is going to be always there and it’s going to make me grow and understand that there’s still a long way to go.”
Fernandes’ heroics on Thursday fired United into a Europa League quarter-final against Lyon.
Next month’s double header will go a long way to determining whether boss Ruben Amorim can salvage something from the club’s cataclysmic campaign and win a third trophy in as many years.
Victory in the competition would see United make a much-needed return to the Champions League next season.
