Bruno Fernandes was careful in avoiding being drawn in on teammate Marcus Rashford’s lackluster goal-shy form for Manchester United after the humbling 4-0 defeat by Liverpool on Tuesday night.
Fernandes has clearly drawn the line as far as speculating on reasons for Rashford’s lack of form and instead insisted that every Manchester United player should share the blame for the forward’s goal drought.
Rashford has managed to net just five goals this season with the last of these almost three months ago. Although not a regular under Ralf Rangnick the England international played 90 minutes in Tuesday night’s heavy trouncing by the Reds at Anfield and was one of the many United players enduring a shameful night at Anfield and was even lambasted by Red Devils legend Roy Keane for “playing like a child”.
However, Portugal stalwart and team-mate Fernandes is insistent there is nothing to be gained by pinning the blame on individual players in a staunch defense of his teammate.
“I don’t have anything to say about that,” the Portuguese playmaker told Stadium Astro when quizzed on Rashford’s lamentable form in recent months.
“Marcus has been professional, he’s training, he’s training well, he’s doing what he has to do. Obviously, when the team doesn’t perform it’s difficult for the individual to come out. We don’t have to blame any player or anyone because the blame has to be on all of us.”
Commenting bluntly and candidly on United’s campaign, Fernandes confessed their side are indeed a long country mile off competing with the likes of league titans Liverpool and Manchester City, who are clearly leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the Premier League.
“Liverpool were just better than us, they did everything they had to do to win the game and they deserved it,” the 27-year-old added. “Obviously this season has not been the best for us, we’re waiting for a different season.
“This one we thought it could be a different one but obliviously we’re not at the same level as Manchester City and Liverpool, they are better than us at this moment and we have to accept that.”
However, despite admitting United are not up to scratch in competing with the two teams at the top of the league table, Fernandes was careful to insist that each player is giving his all to the cause.
“I think everyone runs, I think every game is effort from everyone,” he told Sky Sports. “I don’t want to think even that someone doesn’t give 100 per cent for themselves. Even for themselves and for the team. Everyone has to do it. In first place as I said for ourselves, after for the team and after obviously for the club we represent, the fans and everyone.”
United return to action against Arsenal in Saturday’s early kick-off.