Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has cautioned his teammates against underestimating Manchester City despite their recent run of poor form in the Premier League.
Despite managing just one win in their last ten games and suffering seven defeats in that time, the reigning English champions remain a formidable opponent ahead of Sunday’s derby clash at the Etihad Stadium.
United themselves head into the derby in desperate need of a win, after suffering consecutive defeats in their last couple of league games.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated clash, Red Devils skipper Fernandes stressed the need for his teammates to stay focused, acknowledging City’s dangerous potential despite their current circumstances.
“It doesn’t change nothing for us, how they are in this moment, because we have to think about ourselves,” Fernandes explained.
“We know it’s City, a huge derby. We know what it means for the fans, and it means a lot for us too, so we just have to go to the game and win without thinking who we have ahead.
“We all know that this is a huge game and they have huge players. They’re probably not winning as much as everyone would expect them to do.
“But it doesn’t matter the momentum they are in. We have to think about ourselves, what we can do to hurt them to win the game, and that’s all.
“It’s not to get the result at the Etihad, it is to try to win games. That’s what we want to improve. Obviously we play City and we want to win the game. But it doesn’t matter if it was another game, we will try to win in the same way.
“We have to focus on ourselves because we’re not being at the level we want to be also, so we can’t think about the momentum of the others.
Shina Oludare is a distinguished sports journalist and managing editor, renowned for his comprehensive coverage of African football. His dedication to elevating African sports on the global stage has earned him widespread respect, along with numerous accolades for his contributions. A graduate of the LaLiga Business School in Madrid, Oludare’s passion for sports and his influential work in African football journalism have established him as a leading figure in the industry.
