Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes keen to ‘make it right’ versus Ipswich after Hull loss
The meek 2-0 defeat in their Premier League opener was a gut punch for a United side preparing to take on another promoted team.
Bruno Fernandes is determined to “make it right” against Ipswich and belatedly begin Manchester United’s push to better last season’s third-place finish having been given a bloody nose at Hull.
Michael Carrick’s Red Devils paid for a passive performance in East Yorkshire as the Championship play-off winners unsettled and outfought a side that had finished third a few months earlier.
The meek 2-0 defeat in their Premier League opener was a gut punch for a United side preparing to take on another promoted team as Ipswich head to Old Trafford buoyed by their late win against Sunderland.
“We are three points behind what we wanted to be and we have a huge game on Sunday to play at home,” Fernandes told the Press Association.
“First one for our fans with a long wait after the summer, so we want to make it right and get the three points.”
Fernandes was able to temporarily park the Hull disappointment on Tuesday evening as he was crowned Professional Footballers’ Association Players’ Player of the Year in central Manchester.
The 31-year-old was recognised by his peers for an exceptional campaign in which he broke the single-season Premier League assist record and helped United finish third.
Asked if there is more to come individually and collectively this term, Fernandes said: “I hope so. I think not just individual but, as you said, collectively was good for our aims.
“Our aim was to get back into the Champions League. Obviously, we know the aims of this club is never just that, but last season was a very good season for us.
“Now it’s just about improving and getting higher and higher on the table.”
Fernandes is quick to credit his team-mates for their role in his record-breaking campaign, having overtaken Premier League greats Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne by providing 21 assists.
“Let’s hope so,” Fernandes said with a smile on the subject of bettering the record. “That means goals for our club, for my team-mates, so why not?
“But also increasing my goals too because I wasn’t happy with my numbers of goals last season.”
Asked how much credit goes to his team-mates and coaches for his PFA accolade, he continued: “This is a 50-50 because if I play tennis, it will be all on me and my coaching staff, let’s say.
“But because I play football, I need all of them to make me shine.
“I think last season you spoke a lot about my assist record. If they don’t put the ball in the back of the net, then no-one will talk about that, so that gives huge credit to them.
“I think everyone in the team has improved a lot and this season the aim has to be to keep improving, and I hope next season can be someone different than me on the same stage (at the PFA Awards) as me to get recognised.”