Bruno Fernandes, the captain of Manchester United, expressed his disappointment over the defeat to Chelsea by stating, “We had control of the game but let it slip through our fingers.”
In a thrilling encounter at Stamford Bridge, Manchester United suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat to Chelsea despite leading in the 99th minute.
Bruno Fernandes, the star midfielder for United, expressed his disappointment at his team’s inability to hold on to their advantage.
United fought back from an early deficit with goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Fernandes, cancelling out Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer’s strikes for Chelsea. Garnacho completed the comeback with his second goal, giving Erik ten Hag’s side the lead.
However, deep into added time, Chelsea were awarded a penalty, which Palmer converted to seemingly salvage a point. But the drama didn’t end there.
Moments later, Chelsea won a corner and took it quickly. Palmer unleashed a shot from the edge of the box, which deflected off Andre Onana and found the back of the net, sealing a frantic victory for the Blues.
After the match, Fernandes couldn’t hide his frustration, acknowledging that United had let a crucial three points slip away. He lamented the team’s failure to maintain control in the final minutes, allowing Chelsea to create two late chances and score two goals.
Reflecting on the winning goal, Fernandes emphasized the need for his team to be more alert and responsive, particularly when defending set-pieces. He admitted that they had discussed Chelsea’s quick corner and throw-in tactics before the game but failed to execute their defensive plan effectively.
Criticism has been directed towards United’s defense, as they have faced the most shots in the Premier League this year. In their previous match against Brentford, they conceded 31 shots, and against Chelsea, they faced another 28. Fernandes acknowledged the high number of shots faced but argued that not all of them were quality attempts on target.
Looking ahead, United will face Liverpool at Old Trafford, hoping to disrupt their rivals’ title charge. As the team captain, Fernandes stressed the importance of the upcoming game and the need for United to meet the standards expected of such a prestigious club. He emphasized the significance of taking each game as it comes and focusing on the present rather than the future.
The defeat against Chelsea was undoubtedly a bitter pill to swallow for Manchester United, but Fernandes and his teammates are determined to bounce back and deliver a strong performance against Liverpool.