Bruno Fernandes has revealed the warning Manchester United’s squad has received this summer which shows a key difference from beforehand.
Manchester United begin a new Premier League campaign this weekend and aim to put their struggles from last year behind them.
Ruben Amorim’s side face Arsenal on Sunday afternoon and will need to be at their best to beat Mikel Arteta’s side to start the new season in the right way.
Over the course of pre-season, the feeling seems to be very positive and there is a confidence within the squad that major improvements will be made.
New signings, such as Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško, will help in that aspect but it is also clear that the group know that they cannot let their standards slip anymore.
Fernandes reveals 28-word warning to United squad
Bruno Fernandes is one of the few United players who was able to hold his head high after his performances last season.
In fact, the midfielder has always displayed the right characteristics needed at Old Trafford and, as captain, tried to instil these into his teammates.
Ahead of the new season, Fernandes has explained that the squad know that they can not step out of line anymore, with players and manager being aligned on what is needed.
“We know what line we have drawn for ourselves and if someone steps out of that line they are going to have consequences,” the club captain told Sky Sports.
“I think that’s a very important thing. In the past, we probably thought that even if you step out a little bit of the line, you will be okay.
“Now, we’ve created and spoke – not only the manager but also the players – we’ve said, ‘guys, this is the minimum standard that we need and whoever steps out of this will have problems, not only with the staff but also with the teammates’.”
There’s one key difference to Amorim’s discipline
Discipline at Old Trafford is nothing new. Erik ten Hag was firm in that department and wasn’t afraid to assert his authority when players like Jadon Sancho or Marcus Rashford stepped out of line.
But Amorim is taking a slightly different approach. Rather than relying solely on his own standards, he is encouraging the squad to police themselves and drive those expectations from within.
It’s a philosophy reminiscent of Sir Alex Ferguson’s era, where the dressing room effectively ran itself, and it wasn’t simply down to one player – such as Roy Keane or Gary Neville – but an entire group who knew exactly what was expected of them, and United are aiming to recreate that kind of environment.
Top-down discipline only succeeds when the entire squad buys in, and Amorim appears determined to ensure his players are all aligned.
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