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I have not fallen out with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – Bruno Fernandes 0 13 Share Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Linkedin Pinterest Telegram
Bruno Fernandes has hit back at reports that he has fallen out with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his Manchester United teammates after telling critics not to use his name to cause trouble for the Premier League clubs.
The Portuguese midfielder has been the subject of speculation surrounding an argument with Solskjaer at half-time of their 6-1 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur two weeks’ ago, which saw the 26-year-old substituted for the start of the second half.
The defeat equalled United’s worst ever result in the Premier League era, which leaves them languishing down in 16th in the table with just three points from their opening three games.
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Despite Fernandes’s second-minute penalty putting United in front, goals from Tanguy Ndombele, Son Heung-min and Harry Kane quickly turned the scoreline on its head, with United having Anthony Martial sent off for good measure that left them all but out of the contest by half-time, and although reports of a row between Fernandes and Solskjaer emerged in the days after the match, the midfielder has rejected those claims.
“I’ve only got gratitude for the manager because he was the one who wanted me and believed in me,” Fernandes told Portuguese broadcaster Sport TV, following the 3-0 Nations League victory over Sweden on Wednesday night.
“It’s true the manager decided to take me off in the Spurs match, but he told me it was because the game was over and we`d have a lot more to go for.
“Of course I wasn’t happy about being substituted but I understood it.
“I didn’t speak out or say anything that could prejudice the rest of the team. After the game the manager sent me a message wishing me good luck with my games with Portugal.
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“In the dressing room at the end of the game he asked me and two or three other players if we thought we needed to say something to the team, offer words of support, but no-one wanted to speak because it wasn’t the best moment.”
United resume their faltering Premier League campaign against Newcastle United this Saturday evening, where a victory will be a must to relieve the growing pressure on Solskjaer following defeats by Spurs and Crystal Palace in their opening three games.
With the Champions League group stage also set to kick off next week, the Old Trafford hierarchy will be keeping a close eye on the squad harmony to see any signs of division or a loss of confidence in the Norwegian manager, but Fernandes denied any suggestions that the squad was not pulling in the same direction.
“If anyone wants to create confusion at Manchester United don’t use my name or that of my teammates or manager,” Fernandes added.
“The mood is good and obviously we’re left sad when we lose, but now we have to respond in the next game.”