Portuguese midfielder and Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes, has admitted that the team is not ready to compete for the English Premier League title this season. In a recent interview, Fernandes explained that while the team is in a building phase, it currently lacks the capacity to fight for the trophy.
In recent years, Manchester United has struggled to find its former glory. The team has faced challenges each season, including a difficult 2022/2023 campaign. Despite securing a top-four spot for the following season’s Champions League, the club was knocked out in the group stage. The Premier League performance was also one of the worst in their history, finishing 8th with a negative goal difference of -1. However, they did manage to snatch the FA Cup from their city rivals, Manchester City.
So far in the 2024/2025 season, United’s performance has been below expectations, with only one win in three games and a negative goal difference of -3, placing them 8th in the league table. According to Fernandes, this start shows that the team’s best hope for this season is to aim for a Champions League spot for the next season, rather than challenging for the title.
“I said it during the contract extension, it’s a long-term commitment,” Fernandes stated. “I’m fully aware that United are not ready to win the league at the moment. The minimum objective is to finish in the top four.”
He added, “We are aware that we still have many things to improve to be able to dream of this great objective, which is what I want and what we all want — to win the championship.”
While the path to the Premier League title seems uncertain for now, Fernandes remains hopeful for the future. His comments suggest that the team is focused on building a stronger foundation to compete for the championship in the coming seasons.
