Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho, and Amad Diallo as those he would like to see make significant strides next year.
Once again, Fernandes has been United’s standout performer this season, securing the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for a third consecutive time.
It marks the fourth time in six seasons that he has claimed the prestigious accolade, though he has expressed his desire for one of his teammates to surpass him in the next campaign.
Fernandes believes that if he is not in contention for the award next year, it will indicate that players like Hojlund, Garnacho, and Amad have stepped up and begun to take center stage at Old Trafford.
Beyond goals and assists, the captain has emphasized that the trio can also improve key aspects of their game, such as tackling and defensive contributions.
‘I hope next year, I’m not involved in the names,’ Fernandes told CBS Sports of the shortlist for Manchester United’s player of the season.
‘Because that would mean that Amad has stepped up, Garnacho has stepped up, Rasmus has stepped up…all the players that play up front.
‘If they start scoring, start providing assists, start running backwards, tackling and everything they will have the attention and not me.
‘I would be the happiest person in the world because I am there to help my teammates and get the best from them, which makes the team better.’
Fernandes has aired his frustrations with his teammates underperforming already this campaign, notably on one of the few occasions United have impressed.
When United left Anfield with a 2-2 draw against Liverpool in January, the skipper could only feel annoyed that displays only reach that level in the biggest games.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the draw at Liverpool, Fernandes said: ‘I’m pretty upset because if we show this today at Anfield against Liverpool that is first in the league, that is probably the outstanding team in the Premier League this season. Why can’t we do this every week?
‘It frustrates me because finally I did a proper performance overall and I think we need to be aware that we need much more from ourselves to get something from this season. We need to put some pride out because it isn’t enough for us.’
Suggesting simply effort has been the problem, he added: ‘We need to get this standard every game. I wasn’t worried about everyone putting in effort today because it’s Liverpool, everyone’s going to try and do their best.
‘I will probably be more worried about Southampton after this performance that we think was already good enough and it’s not because it’s going to be a really tough one again.
‘At the end of the day you need to put your effort in and that’s why we got something from this game today.
‘You can’t stop here. I think we have to bring this frustration to the next games. In a good way to understand that this is our level, if we can do it at Anfield today we have to do it every week.’
