Bruno Fernandes has come out in strong support of Andre Onana following the goalkeeper's error during Manchester United’s 2-1 Europa League victory over Viktoria Plzen. Despite Onana’s mistake, which allowed the home side to take an early lead, Fernandes emphasized that the team would not place blame on the goalkeeper, highlighting the importance of focusing on collective performance rather than individual errors.
The mistake occurred early in the match when Onana misjudged a pass and sent the ball directly to Pavel Sulc. Sulc then assisted Matej Vydra in scoring for Plzen. While it was an unfortunate moment for Onana, Fernandes, speaking to TNT Sports, made it clear that mistakes like this are part of the game and should not overshadow the team's overall effort. "We want to play from the back, and sometimes things don’t go the way you want," Fernandes said. "Andre missed the pass, but that’s not something we should focus on. It’s a team game, and we learn and move on together."
Fernandes further underscored the team's unwavering trust in Onana, particularly with regard to playing out from the back, a key part of United’s tactical approach under manager Ruben Amorim. “Andre knows what happened, and he’s a clever guy. He doesn’t need us to remind him of his mistake," Fernandes added. "We have confidence in him, and we trust his decision-making, especially in those situations. He will learn from it, and we know he will continue to make the right decisions moving forward.”
The United captain also pointed out that the team’s focus remains on resilience and teamwork, rather than dwelling on individual errors. Fernandes reinforced that for Manchester United, mistakes should be seen as learning opportunities and part of the process of growth. "We all make mistakes. The important thing is how we respond as a team," Fernandes said. "We’ve built a strong culture of resilience here, and that’s what makes us better in the long run."
Rasmus Hojlund, who was the standout performer in the match, scoring both of United’s goals, also shared his thoughts on the team's development under Amorim. Having played six matches under the new manager, Hojlund noted that while the team has experienced some positive results, there is still much to learn. "We are still adapting to the manager’s style," Hojlund said. "It’s still very early days, and we need more time. We have limited training sessions, so we rely on match experiences to improve."
Hojlund highlighted that the Europa League victory was an important step, but the team recognizes there is much work to be done in terms of cohesion and tactical understanding. With three wins, two losses, and one draw in Amorim’s six games so far, Hojlund emphasized that United must continue to refine their style of play, especially as they navigate a busy fixture schedule.
Overall, the message from both Fernandes and Hojlund is clear: Manchester United is a team built on collective growth, resilience, and trust. While mistakes, like Onana’s misstep against Plzen, are inevitable, the team remains committed to improving and moving forward as a unit, with a strong belief in each other and in their manager’s vision.
