Fernandes labels Man Utd ‘lazy’ and calls for more signings
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes criticized his teammates following a 2-2 draw against Everton in a pre-season friendly, calling their performance “lazy” and urging the club to bring in more players.
The match, held in Atlanta, Georgia, saw Manchester United take the lead through Fernandes, only for Iliman Ndiaye to equalize. A controversial own goal by Ayden Heaven in the 75th minute allowed Everton to secure a draw. The result dampened the mood of the club’s U.S. tour, which had previously included wins over West Ham United and Bournemouth.
Fernandes addressed the media after the game, emphasizing the importance of developing the team’s playing style and integrating new signings. He acknowledged that the performance fell short of expectations.
“We didn’t want to finish in this way. Our performance wasn’t the best, and we were a little bit lazy today,” he said. “We want to avoid that because with laziness, you can pay at any moment.”
Manchester United endured their worst Premier League season in the 2024-2025 campaign, finishing 15th in the table. The club is now seeking to strengthen its squad during the ongoing transfer window, which closes on September 1. Recent additions include Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, both of whom featured in the match against Everton.
Fernandes acknowledged progress but expressed the need for greater competition within the squad. “It’s improving. But it’s not the place it needs to be,” he said. “I don’t want to take a dig at anyone, but the club is doing the best they can in terms of the financial situation they talk about.”
He added, “But it was crystal clear we needed more competition for the players that were here, more quality to get everyone to step up a little more to get to the XI, and I think that is what the club are trying to do. Hopefully we can get one or two players more to help with that.”
Manager Ruben Amorim responded to Fernandes’s comments, expressing satisfaction with the players’ awareness of the situation. “I think I’m happy for the players to have that feeling. It’s saying that they understand the situation. So it’s a good feeling,” he said.
Amorim highlighted the positive momentum from the tour, noting the team’s preparation and readiness for the upcoming season. “The momentum of the tour was perfect. We had the weeks to work with a good environment, good feeling, and then we go back to Carrington [training ground], and we are near to start the season.”
Manchester United will open the Premier League season against Arsenal on August 17. Al Jazeera Sport will provide comprehensive coverage of the match, including build-up and live commentary.
English 
Arabic 