Robbie Walls
Bruno Fernandes has revealed he is determined to keep Manchester United ahead of Liverpool as he sets his sights on helping the club to a record-extending 21st league title.
The Portugal international has been a revelation at Old Trafford since his arrival at the end of the January transfer window in 2020 and has gone on to claim four Premier League Player of the Month awards already after a stellar run of form over the past year.
While his most recent Player of the Month accolade for December illustrated his individual brilliance, the 26-year-old is seemingly more concerned with helping his side to collective honours.
The Red Devils are currently in the midst of something of a dry spell in terms of silverware, with their last trophy win coming back in 2017 under Jose Mourinho, while they also haven’t won the league title since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
That could all change this season, however, with Manchester United currently top of the table – and three points clear of Liverpool – heading into a vital clash at Anfield on Sunday. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are yet to beat a ‘Big Six’ rival so far this term, while they’ve also failed to win at the home of their bitter rivals since 2016.
A win at the weekend for Solskjaer’s men would, however, move them six points ahead of their rivals in the title race and offer an excellent chance of clinching their 21st league title, with Fernandes insisting it’s vitally important that United remain ahead of Liverpool’s record of 19 league titles.
“Of course I know. You don’t want your rivals at the same level as you, or with the same amount of trophies as you,” Fernandes told the Telegraph. “Everyone knows what it means for the supporters. But the main point for us is to know that every game has to mean the same.
“We have to go into every game with the same mentality as we have for Liverpool. It can be different playing against Burnley to Liverpool. I understand for the fans it’s different but, for us, it can’t be because the result we want is the same and nothing else.
“I understand the fans and we will try everything to give them some joy. For them, the next day, going to talk to their friends, who may be Liverpool fans, it’ll be much better if you’ve been the winner than the loser. And it would be a lot more fun with 21 titles and Liverpool still on 19 but the main point for us is to keep going and make our best in every game. Because you need to win the next game and the next one and the next one.”
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