Fernandes frustrated by Manchester United's struggles: 'We must win every game'

Portuguese star believes standard of the club has to be higher

Manchester United players after the 1-1 Premier League draw with Leicester City at Old Trafford on Saturday, April 2, 2022. EPA

Leicester's Kelechi Iheanacho, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal in the 1-1 draw at Manchester United. AP

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire after the match. PA

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick. AFP

Kelechi Iheanacho opens the scoring. AP

Fred scores against Leicester. PA

Manchester United's Fred celebrates scoring the leveller. PA

United midfielder Bruno Fernandes controls the ball. Getty

United attacker Marcus Rashford during the match. EPA

Kelechi Iheanacho scores for Leicester. Getty

Leicester City celebrate a James Maddison goal that was overturned by VAR. PA

Manchester United's Jadon Sancho shows his frustration. AFP

United's Bruno Fernandes shoots at goal. PA

Manchester United's Harry Maguire leaves the field. AP

Bruno Fernandes offered a withering assessment of Manchester United's display after their disappointing 1-1 draw against Leicester City on Saturday.

United’s diminishing hopes of making the Premier League's top four were dealt a blow at Old Trafford despite Fred rescuing a point after Kelechi Iheanacho had given the visitors the lead.

Leicester might have taken all three points but the video assistant referee disallowed James Maddison’s goal 10 minutes from time because of a foul in the build-up.

United, though, were uninspiring without Cristiano Ronaldo, sidelined due to illness, with his fellow Portuguese Fernandes did not hold back, calling for immediate improvements.

“Everyone is disappointed,” he told MUTV. “This result was not the result that we want but there is nothing we can do now.

“We have to look ahead to the next game and understand that the standard of this club has to be higher and better, and we know that we are capable of that.”

Fernandes, who on Friday signed a new contract that ties him to United until 2026 with the option of a further year, has come under scrutiny following a dip in his own form this season.

With Ronaldo and the injured Edinson Cavani absent and Marcus Rashford benched, Fernandes was used as a false nine while the returning Paul Pogba played higher up the pitch in a supplementary role.

United struggled to create many openings in a first half where their best chance fell to Fernandes, who fluffed his shot, but he had a hand in their equaliser three minutes after going behind.

Fernandes’ low strike drew a good save from Kasper Schmeichel but the ball headed into the path of Fred, who slotted in the rebound after 66 minutes which ultimately secured a share of the spoils.

But Fernandes wants to draw a line under a result that left United three points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal, who have played two games fewer, and is now eyeing next week’s trip to Everton.

“You have to think [about] winning every game we have going forward,” he added. “But now, [we need to be] thinking about the next one and not rushing too much because we have to think game by game.”