Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has admitted he must ‘take responsibility’ for his side’s scoring woes. The usually prolific midfielder is yet to find the net this season, enduring a difficult start to the campaign under Erik ten Hag.
None of United’s midfielders have scored a Premier League goal in 2024-25. Ten Hag’s side have bagged just five goals in their first seven league matches and sit a lowly 14th, placing immense pressure on their Dutch coach.
In a brutally honest press conference while away with the Portugal national team, Fernandes accepted that his performances for United have fallen below his usually high standards.
“As for the club, I want to improve as soon as I get there, and make sure the goals start coming again,” the 30-year-old said.
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“I have to take responsibility for that too, because I’m a midfielder who scores a lot of goals, and over the years, I’ve always been at a very high level in terms of goals and I have to live up to that, with those expectations.
“I also have my own standards, I don’t hold back on that.
“I haven’t scored for the club yet [this season] and I hope that as soon as I get there I can score and help the club get back to winning ways and to a good level.”
Christian Eriksen’s three goals across the Europa League and the Carabao Cup are the only ones scored by a United midfielder this season. Fernandes struck 15 times last season and was one of the club’s best performers in his first season as captain.
United’s struggles leave Ten Hag fighting for his job, only months after being retained by the club’s new sporting hierarchy. Before the international break, the Red Devils were thrashed 3-0 by Tottenham before underwhelming stalemates against Porto and Aston Villa.
Ten Hag is expected to be in charge for United’s next Premier League clash against Brentford on October 19. But club chiefs are reported to have spoken about a succession plan they can put in place should the axe fall on the former Ajax boss.
Thomas Tuchel remains the favourite to replace Ten Hag if United do sack him. However, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is claimed to have met with Tuchel in the summer about the possibility of replacing Ten Hag, and failed to reach an agreement.
