Bruno Fernandes reveals real reason behind Man United’s Fulham loss as Rúben Amorim can’t change it

Bruno Fernandes reveals real reason behind Man United’s Fulham loss as Rúben Amorim can’t change it

After a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, Manchester United lost to Fulham on penalties, ending their FA Cup run in sadness.

Fulham were threatening on the break, while United got off to a strong start but found it difficult to generate clear-cut opportunities.

Calvin Bassey put the visitors ahead just before halftime with a corner after bad defending.

In response, Rúben Amorim made adjustments, inserting Christian Eriksen deeper and bringing on Alejandro Garnacho and Victor Lindelöf at the half.

Fulham, however, persisted in maintaining possession and limiting United’s offensive options.

With half an hour to play, Amorim introduced Chido Obi and Casemiro, replacing Eriksen and Rasmus Højlund, and the switch paid off as Bruno Fernandes drilled home a low strike to bring United level.

Man United pushed hard for a winner in the final stages and extra time, with Obi and Garnacho both coming close, but Fulham held firm to take the game to penalties.

Both teams converted their first three spot-kicks before Bernd Leno saved Lindelöf’s effort, swinging the momentum in Fulham’s favour.

Joshua Zirkzee then saw his penalty kept out, sealing United’s exit from the competition and sending Fulham through to the quarter-finals.

Why United lost vs Fulham
Speaking to the media in the aftermath of the loss, Fernandes explained that a big reason why United failed to convert their chances as the tie went on was because the side simply did not have the energy to do so.

“We were out of legs, most of our players were out of legs, and we couldn’t keep the ball enough,” Fernandes explained.

“But we still had some very good transitions, and from those transitions, we had very good chances that we could have scored, but we didn’t.”

Further, the club captain was pushed for why his side was out of legs, to which he explained that the fact United have so many players out injured means the team cannot afford to change, which is the deeper reason for the side’s tiredness and why they fell to defeat against Fulham.

“It’s just tiredness from the game, and from the moment, obviously, we don’t have many players to play,” Fernandes said.

“We’ve been playing most of the games with the same players all the time, and then it’s 120 minutes, you know, like, it’s been tough.”