Man United captain Bruno Fernandes blasts team-mates as ‘too SOFT’ in FA Cup final defeat against rivals Man City… with the midfielder questioning why they were not ‘tighter’ to Ilkay Gundogan for his winning goal
- Bruno Fernandes, 28, has accused his Man United team-mates of being ‘too soft’
- United lost the FA Cup final 2-1 against rivals Man City on Saturday at Wembley
- The Red Devils captain questioned their marking for Ilkay Gundogan’s winner
Bruno Fernandes has accused his Manchester United team-mates of being ‘too soft’ in their FA Cup final defeat against Manchester City.
United lost the cup showpiece against their bitter rivals 2-1 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Red Devils captain Fernandes equalised from the spot after Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring just 13 seconds in, but Gundogan had far too much time and space to score the winner shortly after half-time.
And the Portuguese midfielder, 28, insisted United underperformed on the day and questioned why his fellow stars were not ‘tighter’ to Gundogan before he scored his second.
He said: ‘We came back into the game, we started badly but came back into it and had good spells on the ball in the first half.
Captain Bruno Fernandes has accused his Manchester United team-mates of being ‘too soft’
United lost the FA Cup final 2-1 against bitter rivals Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday
Fernandes questioned why fellow stars were not ‘tighter’ to Ilkay Gundogan before his winner
‘After we scored, we had some good counters but didn’t score. We conceded early in the second half and then still had other chances but we didn’t and City deserved the win.
‘We were too soft and gave up too much space for the first goal but it’s an amazing strike. If players are tighter then maybe they can stop it but it’s an amazing strike.’
Gundogan’s first was the quickest goal in FA Cup final history.
United’s midfield failed to track the City captain’s run and he volleyed home from outside the penalty area.
Fernandes levelled from the penalty spot when Jack Grealish was controversially penalised for handball, before Gundogan volleyed home from the edge of the box after being found by a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick.
United boss Erik ten Hag echoed Fernandes’ frustration about the goals they conceded at Wembley.
He added: ‘We did very well, we conceded two soft goals but we were in the game. There was a great spirit and very good organisation.
‘They were tough goals, they were so soft and avoidable. When you play against City and you concede almost nothing from open play it is a big credit for the team but if you concede goals like this it is disappointing.’
