Bruno Fernandes claims his team can draw inspiration from their performance after suffering a slim loss to Arsenal on the first day of the Premier League season.
A first-half set-piece undid the Red Devils as Altay Bayindir, pressured by William Saliba, failed to clear Declan Rice’s corner. At the back post, Riccardo Calafiori was there to head the game-winning goal.
United, though, looked threatening in attack as debutants Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha showed some potentials.
“It’s the first game of the season, so we can’t speak about step forward,” Fernandes revealed to Sky Sports. “We did a lot of good things, but obviously, [it] wasn’t enough.
“We concede a goal from a set-piece in the first half, and I think from there on, Arsenal didn’t have any good chances, they didn’t create any good chances.
“We were defending very well, I think. Again, we created too many chances without scoring, so that’s a point we have to look at and make it better next time.”
United had more possession and more shots on target, which Fernandes pointed out as evidence of development under Ruben Amorim’s direction.
He continued: “I think we control [the game] well,” he continued. “We were very good on the ball and, as I said, we created some chances, but we didn’t score. I think that’s the main negative of the game for us today.”
The Portuguese international reserved his toughest comments for the fans filling Old Trafford and supporting the squad from above all else.
“It was brilliant,” he said. “When I finished the game, that gave me hope of the season being different, and being very good for us.”
He added: “The way, when we went around and into the tunnel, they [the fans] gave us help in that.
“So, now, [the] next game for us is very important to give something back to them too.”
Amorim’s men will be on the road to Craven Cottage on Sunday 24 August in a clash with Fulham.
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