Bruno Fernandes: ''We have to close the gap''

Bruno Fernandes has revealed that he wants to see the direction Manchester United will take under their new owners INEOS before committing himself beyond his current contract, which expires in 2026. 

In an exclusive interview given to Portuguese daily A BOLA, Fernandes spoke of his desire to win trophies with the Red Devils, but admitted that in the future he wants the club to be more "competitive" than they have been this season. 

"I've always told the club that I don't want them to promise me that we'll be champions because, for any club I go to, I don't expect them to promise something they can't deliver from the start. What I've always asked for and want from the club is for us to be competitive, " stated Fernandes in the interview. 

"This year, we haven't been, and we don't have to hide it. The season has been below our expectations, below what my expectations are, at least. And I believe it's also below the club's expectations because it's not used to being in these positions. I want to be competitive, I want to compete, I want to win. I've already had a meeting with the new owners. They want to meet with the players and have already been doing so individually, and that was exactly the message I conveyed. 

United captain Fernandes played the full 120 minutes as his side beat arch-rivals Liverpool 4-3 in a thrilling FA Cup semi-final last weekend to give the Red Devils a timely boost and lift the growing pressure that has engulfed manager Erik ten Hag for the majority of the 2023/24 campaign. 

In his interview with A Bola, Fernandes admitted that closing the gap on the likes of Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal is the clear aim at Old Trafford. 

"I want to stay here, I want to be part of a project that has everything it needs to compete with Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool, who are the clubs that have been in better form. City and Liverpool especially, and Arsenal, which in the last two, three years, has also been growing," he added. 

"After last season, which I think was a good season considering the expectations that existed and my expectations... I was aware that we wouldn't be at the same level as Liverpool and City, I had that awareness, but I also knew that we could compete or be closer, and we were closer to competing with them, we reached two finals, won one, lost another, made it to the quarter-finals of the Europa League... But from last season to this one, there hasn't been that continuity that should have happened, that would have made us even more competitive, a team more likely to be in the top positions."