Bruno Fernandes has expressed his frustration with Manchester United’s dismal season after the Premier League concluded on Sunday.
United have been largely shambolic in 2024-25, with Ruben Amorim’s side finishing in 15th place after losing 18 of their 38 games and picking up just 42 points.
The Red Devils also ended the campaign trophyless and reached several new nadirs, including Wednesday’s Europa League final defeat by Tottenham following a meek and uninspiring display.
That loss could potentially have damaging consequences for United’s financial future after they missed out on qualifying for any European competition for the first time in 11 years.
And Fernandes, who has been one of the few positives of the season with 19 goals and 20 assists in all competitions, reflected on the past nine months after United beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday.
‘It was not even just about Bilbao, it was about the full season,’ Fernandes said when asked about showing a reaction from the Spurs defeat.
Bruno Fernandes reflected on Man United’s shambolic season after their win over Aston Villa
United finished 15th in the Premier League and failed to win a trophy or qualify for Europe
But they did end the season with a 2-0 win over Champions League-chasing Aston Villa
‘It’s been very disappointing for everyone, but for the fans in the first place, and that’s what I tried to transmit in the before the game for my players I was like: “Just look around. Just look how special this place is, how lucky we are to be here”.
‘We had the full stadium today after a disappointing season after a disappointing Wednesday, they were again here, trying to lift us up, trying to be positive and giving a lot of energy to the team.
‘And for us it was just trying to give a different image in this last game of the season. Obviously you play with a little bit more freedom, you have no pressure, because the position in the league wouldn’t change much.
‘But everyone played a brilliant game. We were very comfortable on the ball, very brave off the ball. And I think this is a brilliant response, but we have to bring this for the next season.’
United were much better on Sunday and their victory condemned Villa to the Europa League as they won their first league game since March.
And Fernandes felt the display should be a marker for next season, although he also expressed his frustration at where a performance like that had been for most of the campaign.
‘This is exactly what I was telling to Cas[emiro] at the end of the game,’ he added. ‘I was like this is what frustrates me the most is that we can perform like this against one of the most consistent teams in the league.
‘This season Aston Villa is a very difficult team to play against, very well organised, very good players on the ball, and then you can pin them back, play, create chances, don’t give any chances away.
Fernandes thanked the fans for their support and expressed his frustrations with the season
The future of United’s captain remains uncertain amid interest from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal
‘And it’s difficult to understand that we can’t do this through the season. But obviously I understand the pressure of playing for this club is massive and today we had a lot of freedom to go to the game and just enjoy it.
‘We wanted to give something back, something different, show the fans that we want this so much to be better, to be more successful and everything.
‘But obviously we want this belief to keep going to the next season. And as the manager ends up saying, the bright days are coming.’
Fernandes’ future is a topic that remains in question heading into next season, with United’s captain the subject of a £100million offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, who are willing to offer him a three-year contract worth a basic £700,000-a-week and up to £65m-a-season including signing-on fee and bonuses.
United do not want to sell him, but the club are under even greater financial pressure after the financial ramifications of the Europa League final defeat.
Fernandes admitted after that game that he could be sold to balance the books, saying: ‘If the club thinks it’s time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in, it is what it is,’ although that situation is likely to become clearer in the coming weeks.
