Bruno Fernandes admitted Manchester United must improve from set-pieces after conceding from two in their Old Trafford defeat to Liverpool. United were beaten 4-2 by Jurgen Klopp’s side and both first-half goals they conceded came from dead-ball situations, with Diogo Jota turning in a half-cleared corner and Roberto Firmino heading in from a free-kick. Fernandes, captain for the night in the continued absence of Harry Maguire, accepts that isn’t good enough and that United need to improve in that area.
Bruno Fernandes said: “We started well, we scored, we created more chances after that, but we conceded two goals from set-pieces and we have to work on that. We’ve conceded too many goals from set-pieces this season and everyone is disappointed in the dressing room. We know we have to improve and do better and we have to do it in the next game because we want to secure second place. I think the performance was good, we kept the ball well, we played side-to-side, we tried to do what we trained. But when you go down 2-1 and you have to play 45 mins against a team like Liverpool, you give more space to them and they take that space, we concede another two goals. Everyone was disappointed in the dressing room because we made big mistakes, but we learn from that and we have to keep improving and understanding we are not at our best yet.”
United have now suffered back-to-back defeats this week and they have just two Premier League games remaining – against Fulham and Wolves – before the Europa League final against Villarreal in Gdansk.
Bruno Fernandes said: “The confidence has to be high, we know what we’ve done all season, a defeat hurts a lot but we have to learn from those and not be disappointed into the next game and afraid of doing something. We know we’re not at our best yet, it’s time to keep improving from the mistakes we made.”
The Portuguese playmaker was named captain for the second time in his United career, having also skippered the side in the Champions League win in Paris, and he was honoured to do the job once again.
Bruno Fernandes added: “Everyone knows it’s the biggest honour to have the armband in a game for the club, I’m another one [to do it] and I’m really proud of that. After Paris it’s another dream come true,” he said.
