Manchester United’s players left Old Trafford shattered but proud as the team twice came from behind to knock Liverpool out of the FA Cup.
So often through the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, there have been criticisms of the team’s desire, and quality.
At the weekend against Liverpool, there could be no criticising of how this set of players fought their way back into the game. It wasn’t pretty, but they managed it.
Erik ten Hag had shifted players around into unusual positions, pulling out everything he had at his disposal, and every single footballer in a Manchester United shirt gave all they had.
Club captain Bruno Fernandes was one, he was nursing a dead leg and had to drop into central defence. There was no way he was coming off.
Bruno Fernandes speaks about dressing room reaction
Bruno Fernandes spoke to MUTV after the full-time whistle to explain how the players reacted in the dressing room.
And while you might have expected lots of shouting and celebrating, Fernandes was quite adamant that the players were simply too tired.
He explained: “I think the belief of the team the the desire to win this game was great, the effort from everyone.
“We ended the game, everyone in the dressing room was was that tense that we couldn’t do anything more, we couldn’t even shout to celebrate, it was so hard to get the shout of happiness out.”
Fernandes comments show United commitment
Fernandes’ comments demonstrate how Manchester United’s players gave absolutely everything, to fight back from a goal down twice, to knock out a bitter rival.
The Old Trafford crowd will have helped, United needed a little added inspiration, with Alejandro Garnacho leading from the front.
Garnacho played all 120 minutes yet was fresh enough to lead a rapid counter-attack at the end of the game and lay pass off for Amad to score his unforgettable winner.
Fernandes himself leads by example. He never misses a game, and barely misses a minute. His fitness and durability is one of his top qualities, and his resilience was a factor in helping United rise to the challenge and sending Jurgen Klopp’s side back home defeated.