Bruno Fernandes has hit back after Roy Keane claimed that Manchester United’s players do not run enough under Rúben Amorim after a loss against Newcastle United.
Manchester United’s miserable Premier League season continued on Sunday as they crashed to a 4-1 defeat against Newcastle United, their 14th loss of the campaign in the competition.
Despite a promising start, it was Newcastle who opened the scoring after 25 minutes. Alexander Isak lifted a clever ball over the top for Sandro Tonali, who calmly finished to give the hosts the lead.
Newcastle controlled much of the ball, but Rúben Amoirm’s hit back on the break. Alejandro Garnacho raced through and slotted home in the 37th minute to level things up, and Amorim’s side held firm to reach the interval at 1-1.
The second half, however, quickly slipped away from United. Just minutes after the restart, Jacob Murphy set up Harvey Barnes to restore Newcastle’s lead. Soon after, Barnes made it three, pouncing on a costly error from Noussair Mazraoui.
Bruno Guimarães added a fourth late on, punishing a misplaced pass from Altay Bayındır to wrap up a comprehensive win for the hosts. United, lifeless in the final stages, were well beaten as their season took yet another hit.
Keane’s bold United claim vs Newcastle
Following the loss against Newcastle, former United captain Roy Keane claimed that he feels United’s players do not run enough and that this issue has plagued the team all season under Amorim.
“Some of the players who can run, I think there’s some players who can run, but they don’t want to run,” Keane boldly claimed on Sky Sports. “That’s another worry.
“Some of the goals they give up, you’ve got to experience right back just letting somebody run by him. That’s the bit I would be frustrated with. But I think the premiership has cut this manager and his coach and staff out.
“Even his first game, where we covered, was down at Ipswich. And Ipswich drew with him, and Ipswich probably could have won it near the end. I bet you’re thinking, this is tough.
“And I know people do the homework, and these coaches and staff, and obviously players do the homework before they go to a club. But I think he’s gone in there, and I think he’s been shocked at how bad this group of players are.
Fernandes hits back at Keane criticism
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, club captain Bruno Fernandes was then asked how he felt about such a claim, to which the Portuguese midfielder gave a candid response that the players are completely aware of the situation they are in.
“It’s the opinion of other people,” Fernandes replied. “I can’t make people have all the same opinion about me, about my players, about my team. And that’s it.
“Obviously, we’re not stupid. We know the position we are in. It’s easy to criticise because this club has never been like this. It’s never suffered in the last years the way we’ve been suffering this season. It’s normal.
“You need to be aware that you play for Manchester United. You know the criticism will be there. You’re going to get some credit when you do good things. You need to find the balance of the way to take it.”
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