‘Unlucky’ Bruno Fernandes does not have disciplinary issue, insists Ten Hag
Erik ten Hag has dismissed any notion that Manchester United is facing a discipline issue after Bruno Fernandes received his second red card in consecutive matches. This incident occurred during the game against Porto on Thursday, following the red card he got in the previous match against Tottenham last Sunday. That dismissal was later rescinded by the Football Association after an appeal.
Fernandes was shown a straight red card during the 3-0 loss to Spurs, resulting in his dismissal. Throughout the match at Old Trafford, United received five yellow cards. Additionally, Fernandes was given two yellow cards in his home country of Portugal earlier in the week, both for high boots. The second card was issued when he challenged Nehuén Pérez while trying to connect with a cross near Porto's goal, as United was down 3-2 in a Europa League match that ultimately ended in a 3-3 draw, thanks to a late header from Harry Maguire.
“The red card shown to Bruno in the match against Spurs has been rescinded. They admitted there was an error made on Sunday, and in my opinion, he was quite unfortunate in the game against Porto,” Ten Hag explained. “He put in every effort to score, was in the perfect position, but the opposing player came from a direction he couldn't see. So, I wouldn’t label that as a lack of discipline.”
United quickly took a two-goal advantage at the Estádio do Dragão with scores from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Højlund. However, they let the lead slip as Pepê and Samu scored two goals within just seven minutes of the first half. When asked if this indicated a lack of structure, Ten Hag acknowledged the need for improvement. “We definitely need to work on this,” the manager stated. “But I also want to emphasize that we showed solid discipline during the first 25 minutes with our positioning and in creating opportunities at the right times. We were able to increase the pace of the game. So, while I wouldn’t label it as purely undisciplined, there’s certainly room for us to enhance our approach. We will be addressing this moving forward.”
United allowed a second goal from Samu just five minutes after the break, but Maguire, who came on as a substitute, managed to equalize later in the game. Following the match, the defender commented that losing a two-goal advantage highlighted a mental challenge within the team. Ten Hag responded by asking, “What’s the mental problem?” He explained that there are various issues that need to be tackled properly. He noted that this team has confidence and a never-give-up attitude, showing resilience. However, there are other areas where they need to improve.
On Sunday, United will face Aston Villa, and the pressure on Ten Hag's position continues to grow. He emphasizes that the team needs time to grow and pointed to the recent addition of Manuel Ugarte, who didn't see any action in the match against Porto, as an example. “The defensive midfield role was one we aimed to fill this season, but he requires time to adjust,” Ten Hag said regarding Ugarte. “I understand that in top-level football, there’s an expectation for immediate results, but that’s not always practical. He needs to acclimate to our playing style, connect with his teammates, and adapt to the pace of the Premier League.”
"We have additional roles that require our attention. However, I'm really happy to see Rasmus Højlund back. We weren’t able to utilize him during the first two months of the season. I’m hopeful that he’s now in shape. He continues to make progress with his fitness, and if he can maintain his health throughout the season, it will be beneficial for our team."
"We definitely have more areas to work on and improve. We’ll just have to wait and see how everything turns out by the end of the season." Ten Hag dismissed inquiries about his future with the club. "I'm not focused on that right now because it's not something I'm concerned about," the 54-year-old stated. "We’re all in this together—ownership, management, the players, and the staff."
Kobbie Mainoo didn't make the trip to Porto due to an injury and is still uncertain for the upcoming match at Villa Park. "We'll have to wait and see if he's able to play on Sunday," Ten Hag stated. "It's a matter of whether he's healthy enough to start or even be on the bench."
