Fernandes: Silverware still our aim

Bruno Fernandes is now targeting success in the Europa League following his ‘dream’ of a third consecutive FA Cup final at Wembley being ended with our fifth-round exit to Fulham.

Fernandes scored a wonderful equaliser for United – his 90th goal in red colours – to ensure the tie went the distance at Old Trafford, after Calvin Bassey had netted an opener for the visitors in first-half stoppage time.

The skipper stepped up successfully again by converting the first effort of the ensuing penalty shootout, but United were unable to match the 100 per cent conversion rate displayed by the Cottagers from the spot, as a result, losing out 4-3 on penalties.

“Of course, I help the team to draw the game and to try to get back into the game to win it, but unfortunately, it was not enough today,” our no.8 told MUTV in his post-match interview, when asked about his equalising strike.

“But we look forward now to the rest of the season, obviously with the main focus now on the next game in a competition where we want to go forward. It’s one of our goals for this season to try to get a trophy.

“I think we controlled the gam. In one moment in the first half where we concede the goal, we talk about during the week, that they do that in set-pieces. We should have been more aware of that.

“But I think we controlled the game in the first half very well, we had some chances, in the second half even more.

“Then in extra-time, I think Fulham had a little bit more control of the game, but we had the better chances to end up scoring a goal, but we didn’t, and then the penalties, they were more efficient than us.”

Fernandes agreed when it was put to him that our fighting spirit is still strong but, ultimately, felt the special moment needed for us to get a winner did not come.

“I think it’s [fighting spirit] always been there but, obviously in [some] moments, you get goals. In others, you don’t. Against Everton, it wasn’t enough to get the win. Against Ipswich, it was. Today was enough to get us into extra-time and then into penalties but, as I said, they were more efficient than us.

“Unluckily for us, it’s a dream that getting into the final at Wembley again that is not there anymore, but we need to keep pushing for what’s left of the season.”

Looking ahead to facing Real Sociedad, a side Bruno has faced in two-legged ties twice before during his time as a Red, in the 2020/21 and 2022/23 campaigns, the midfielder is well aware of the test the Basque outfit will provide.

“We know that we had many injuries in this period and we don’t have as many players and we’ve been playing almost always with the same players for long spells, it’s been difficult,” continued the Portugal international.

“We just now need to recover, focus ourselves to the best we can to get [to our] best, fresh legs to the next games.

“It’s going to be a tough one, a Spanish team that plays brilliant football, very, very good players up front, very [high] quality coming out from the back, so we need to be fresh to run again because they will make us run, and then when we have the ball, we have to make them run, too.”

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