Bruno Fernandes has called on Manchester United to be ‘braver’ after edging out Ipswich Town at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim’s side survived going down to 10 men before half-time to claim an important three points with a 3-2 win on home soil.
The night started disastrously for the Red Devils, after a calamitous mix-up from Patrick Dorgu and Andre Onana saw Ipswich open the scoring inside four minutes. A miscommunication from the pair allowed Jaden Philogene to steal in and score.
It’s all three points for 10-man United! 💪🔴#MUFC || #MUNIPS
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 26, 2025
United levelled through Sam Morsy’s own goal, before another set piece ended with Matthijs de Ligt scrambling in a second for the hosts.
However, Dorgu’s night went from bad to worse when the new signing was sent off. Two minutes before half-time, a high challenge from the Dane saw him dismissed. Ipswich took just minutes to capitalise and levelled before the interval through Philogene’s second. Onana was again at fault, allowing the winger’s cross to evade everyone and find the far corner.
United retook the lead just two minutes after the break. Fernandes’ corner was met by Harry Maguire, who headed home to put the 10 men ahead. The Red Devils dug in despite their man advantage, defending doggedly for long spells to claim the win.
Speaking at full-time, Fernandes said the transition into Ruben Amorim’s style has meant the club have suffered this season, but has called on his teammates to show more courage across the run-in.
“At the moment it is what it is, we have been suffering, we know that. We have not been at our best,” Fernandes reflected to TNT Sports.
“We scored from two set pieces but we were in complete control of the game.
“When you win games you get more confidence and you get braver, so hopefully in the next few games we are going to score more and more.”
On how the side are adapting to Ruben Amorim’s methods, Fernandes added: “Me and H (Harry Maguire) have been here a while, so we know we have to stick to what we’ve been doing in training, what we’re supposed to do.
“You could feel in moments it’s not working but for some reason the manager wants us to do that. If he wants us to do that… they watch so many games. Not just the staff that came with him but the ones already here. We have great people behind the team to work on that.
“If they do that in the right way we just have to come on the pitch and show it. As I said, we need to have more confidence, be more brave, and show our character and our qualities.”
