In the lead-up to the highly anticipated Manchester derby, Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United’s midfielder, emphasized the importance of focusing on his team’s performance rather than being distracted by Manchester City’s recent struggles. Despite City’s dip in form, with only one win in their last ten matches, Fernandes made it clear that United must concentrate on their own issues and not allow themselves to be swayed by City’s current challenges.
The derby, set to take place at Old Trafford, will also see the debut of Ruben Amorim, who joined United and brings with him some notable past success against City. Amorim, during his time as manager of Sporting Lisbon, led his side to a stunning 4-1 victory over Pep Guardiola’s City—one of the seven losses City has endured in a rough stretch of results.
While City’s form has been disappointing recently, Fernandes is firm in his belief that the derby remains as significant as ever. He reiterated that United must focus on their own preparations and not be overly concerned with how their rivals are performing. “It doesn’t change anything for us, how they are in this moment, because we have to think about ourselves,” Fernandes stated.
The Portuguese international acknowledged that, despite City’s recent struggles, they are still a formidable side with world-class players. He downplayed the idea that facing City in their current form presents an ideal opportunity for United, saying, “We all know that this is a huge game and they have huge players. They’re probably not winning as much as everyone would expect them to do.” In essence, Fernandes stressed the necessity of approaching the derby with respect for City’s talent, irrespective of their current form, and ensuring United is fully focused on its own performance and improvements.