Bruno Fernandes sets Man Utd trophy targets after admitting Premier League failure

Bruno Fernandes says Man Utd can silence critics with Champions League and FA Cup wins as they continue to fight for a top four spot

Bruno Fernandes says Manchester United deserve to end their five-year trophy wait – and believes they can win the Champions League and FA Cup this season.

United’s last trophy was the Europa League in 2017, under former boss Jose Mourinho, which saw them qualify for the Champions League after finishing sixth in the league that year.

Fernandes knows the Premier League title is out of reach, with Manchester City so far ahead at the top, with United now locked in a battle to secure the final Champions League spot.

But Fernandes believes United, despite their struggles this season, have enough quality and experience to potentially go all the way in the FA Cup and Champions League.

And Fernandes, who celebrates two years at United this weekend, believes Ralf Rangnick’s side – who moved up to fourth place with Saturday’s win over West Ham – deserve to lift a trophy.

“Of course in the league it’s too far now,” said Fernandes. “We have to be realistic and we have to fight for the top four and be in the Champions League next season.

“But, at the same time, fight for the Champions League and the FA Cup. I don’t care what people think or may say about our winning the Champions League or the FA Cup.

“I think we have the chance to win them, the qualities to win them and, above all, we are in these competitions. Until we are eliminated, we have to believe that we can win these competitions.

“My ambition is still the same. I want to win trophies with the club. It will always be in my head until the last day I am at the club.

“I don’t know when it will be but, until then, I will believe that I can win trophies with this club, because I think we can.

“I think the club deserves it, the fans deserve it and also the players – we deserve to win a trophy.

“Anyway, we have to take it step by step and understand that we have those qualities.

“But we have to figure out how to do it, how to put it all together – the qualities, the intensity and everything.”

Fernandes, who joined United from Sporting Lisbon for an initial fee of £47m reaching a potential £67m, said his lowest point since joining was losing in the Champions League final. the Europa League last season.

United and Villarreal drew 1-1 in Gdansk, with the Spanish side lifting the trophy after beating an epic 11-10 penalty shootout, a defeat that still worries Portugal playmaker Fernandes.

Asked about the only game he could play again since joining United, Fernandes said: “Probably the Europa League final – that was the toughest so far because I felt the better team had lost.

“Obviously congratulations to Villarreal. They played a very good game and the team that won is always the best, we can say.

“But no, obviously that was the one I wanted to repeat. I’m sure if we played that one again we would win.