Bruno Fernandes tells team-mates they must show they ‘have the BALLS’ to play for Man United, as captain breaks silence on Ruben Amorim’s ‘worst team in club history’ claim

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has warned team-mates that the onus is on them to show they ‘have the balls to play for this club’ as they look to turn their miserable season around. 

Fernandes’ rescue act in midweek secured a precious Europa League win over Rangers at Old Trafford. 

But the United captain knows standards remain far below where they need to be and speaking in light of recent remarks by head coach Ruben Amorim that this is ‘maybe the worst team in the history of Manchester United’ he did not mince his words. 

‘The reality is to play here you have to have that pressure, you have to have the balls to play for this club — that is what it is,’ Fernandes said.

‘You have to feel that in every moment in every game it is a new chance to bring us back to the position we deserve.

‘Unfortunately for us this season there have been too many ups and downs and every time we look like getting there, we get punched again and go down. 

Bruno Fernandes did not hold back with his latest rallying cry to his Man United team-mates

Fernandes (right) believes the onus is on players to show they deserve to play for the club

‘What we have to do is every time we take a punch and go down, we must get up and try to punch back.’

United are suffering this season and defeat to Brighton recently marked their worst start to a season at home in 131 years, when they weren’t even known then as Manchester United.

And while Amorim later came out and expressed regret at the severity of his statement about the state of the team right now, Fernandes has no hard feelings as he does not believe the sentiment was what Amorim truly feels. 

‘I don’t want to hear my manager saying certain things about the team because I know he doesn’t feel it,’ he added.

‘But he made himself part of that and when the manager makes himself part of what he’s saying, no one can get angry or disappointed by it.

‘When he says “the worst team in Manchester”, he speaks about the position we are in and when you look at where we are in the league we are in the worst position we’ve ever been.

‘So you have to take it, that’s the reality unfortunately. We are in this position for a long time and the club doesn’t belong there.

‘But we have to accept that and understand we need to push ourselves to much bigger things and higher positions.’

Ruben Amorim admitted regret at suggesting this team could be the worst in the club’s history

Fernandes (left) holds no grudges as he does not believe Amorim believes his harsh critique

Tensions have escalated for Amorim amid a series of disappointing results since he came in to pick up the mess left by predecessor Erik ten Hag.

After they were beaten 3-1 by Brighton, Amorim, who smashed a TV in the dressing room in anger, did not hold back in his assessment.

‘We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United,’ Amorim admitted.

‘I am saying that because we have to acknowledge that and to change it. Here you go: your headlines.

‘It’s unacceptable to lose so many games. For any Premier League club, so imagine Manchester United?

‘The opponents are better than us in many details. I am just here to help my players, but we need to understand we are breaking all the bad records.