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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has apologised for an unacceptable performance against Bournemouth lacking the requisite quality, effort and aggression.<\/p>\n
Erik ten Hag won the Carabao Cup during a promising first season in charge but the Dutchman\u2019s second campaign has been a roller coaster with more lows than highs.<\/p>\n
United\u2019s season reached a nadir on Saturday afternoon as Bournemouth won at Old Trafford for the first time in their history, with the hosts fortunate to escape with only a 3-0 defeat.<\/p>\n
It was a remarkable drop-off from Wednesday\u2019s 2-1 win against Chelsea and led exasperated Ten Hag to admit they are not good enough to play on a high level consistently.<\/p>\n
\u201c(I want) to apologise for the performance,\u201d skipper Fernandes said. \u201cIt was not acceptable, starting on me. I\u2019m not talking about anyone else.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think everyone agrees in the dressing room that the performance was (not) at our level and we have to perform much better.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was underperforming on quality-wise, on effort-wise and not aggressive as we did in the last game against Chelsea.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t do your job, you\u2019re not going to win the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Similar words and explanations have been heard during a challenging season that has seen United lose 11 of their 23 matches in all competitions.<\/p>\n
They have won 11 and drawn the other, but the eye-watering number of defeats means pressure is mounting on Ten Hag and his team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know (why it was so different to Chelsea) but it\u2019s been consistently like (this),\u201d Fernandes told MUTV. \u201cWhen we win a game, the next one we don\u2019t perform in the same way we did before.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if it\u2019s like a lack of concentration or focus or something else, but it\u2019s something that we have to be aware that after winning a game we have to get that consistency of winning games.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven sometimes (if we are) underperforming but getting the result.\u201d<\/p>\n
United now need to press reset and find the right attitude to avoid being sent into a tailspin at the end of a crucial week.<\/p>\n
First up comes Tuesday\u2019s key Champions League clash against Bayern Munich, with the Red Devils only progressing if they win and the other Group A game between Copenhagen and Galatasaray ends in a draw.<\/p>\n
Then comes a Premier League trip to rivals Liverpool next Sunday \u2013 a match Fernandes will miss after collecting his fifth booking of the season against Bournemouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously it\u2019s good (that we play soon),\u201d Fernandes said. \u201cObviously we know that now the next game is going to be really tough.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to win and obviously wait for a good result on the other game for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we have to do our job first of all, and thinking and understanding that is going to be a tough game for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we are capable, more than able, to get the result.\u201d<\/p>\n
While United\u2019s problems are pored over in minute detail, things are looking far rosier on the south coast.<\/p>\n
Summer appointment Andoni Iraola has overseen a superb upturn in recent weeks at Bournemouth.<\/p>\n
Dominic Solanke, Philip Billing and Marcos Senesi scored the goals in a match that goes down as one of the Cherries\u2019 greatest ever results.<\/p>\n
Asked where the win rated in the club\u2019s recent history, long-serving right-back Adam Smith told BBC Radio Solent: \u201cI\u2019d say it\u2019s number one.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, it\u2019s the Theatre of Dreams and we had never won here. It was tough at times and we suffered. But we were playing Manchester United.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the lads will remember it for a long time. We kept a clean sheet and it probably should have maybe have been 4-0. It was unbelievable for the fans.\u201d<\/p>\n