Bruno Fernandes emphasizes that each Manchester United player needs to reflect on their performance and strive for improvement—not solely focusing on the mistakes made by goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Onana’s errors were evident as Manchester United twice squandered a two-goal lead against Galatasaray in the Champions League, resulting in a 3-3 draw.
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To advance to the last 16, United now faces the task of defeating Bayern Munich at Old Trafford in two weeks and relying on a draw between Copenhagen and Galatasaray in the other match.
Despite Onana being highlighted as a significant contributor to United’s challenges, team captain Bruno Fernandes underscores the collective responsibility, urging every player under Erik ten Hag to elevate their game and enhance their performance.
“Onana knows how to manage these moments,” said Fernandes. “It’s happened in the past already and it happens. He knows he needed to do better – as every one of us needed to do better – for us to have left with a good result.
“It’s not only because of him that we left with a bad result. Everyone should be accountable for their responsibilities.
“I take my responsibility and we have to get better. We’re probably one of the teams that conceded the most in the Champions League – it’s been too many. We have to learn to control the games better. If we don’t concede, there’s a good chance to get good results, as we’re a team with good offensive qualities.
“Although we should have scored many more goals, we made too many bad decisions during the final minutes. We have to be more clever and look at our teammates who are in better positions.”
Ten Hag is inclined to support Onana, but he has cautioned the goalkeeper that there is no room for further errors.
The United manager is prepared to provide Altay Bayindir, the backup goalkeeper and a £4.3 million summer acquisition from Fenerbahce, an opportunity if Onana makes any more mistakes.
Although Bayindir has yet to make his debut for United, Ten Hag acknowledges the progress he has made and assures him that he will be given an opportunity.
This statement serves as an implicit warning to Onana regarding the potential consequences of repeated errors.
“Altay is getting used to the Premier League, and getting used to European football, which is tough when you’re coming from Turkey,” said Ten Hag.
“But we’re very pleased with that process, he’s doing very well. He has to be patient, but if he works well, if he keeps his progress, he will get his chances and then he has to take this.”
