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Bruno Fernandes reveals how Erik Ten Hag laid down law to Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo - 'do it, or you're out'
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Published 23/02/2023 at 13:22 GMT
Bruno Fernandes was the latest guest on Rio Ferdinand's BT Sport series 'Between The Lines', and the Manchester United midfielder showered praise on a reborn Marcus Rashford this season. The Portuguese superstar also revealed how manager Erik ten Hag laid down the law to Rashford, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho. United play Barcelona in the Europa League live on BT Sport on Thursday.
'His club' - Ten Hag on his meetings with Sir Alex
Video credit: SNTV
Bruno Fernandes has told Rio Ferdinand that you either do what Erik ten Hag says or “you're out”.
The 28-year-old was talking to Ferdinand on the BT Sport series 'Between The Lines' ahead of the club’s clash with Barcelona in the Europa League on Thursday, which is live on BT Sport.
And he told the former Manchester United defender that the Dutch boss has applied consistent "demands" across all the squad.
The Portuguese midfielder said: "He demands from people 'you do it, or you're out'. You don't play.
"Everyone in the beginning was a bit like 'if a big player doesn't do what he wants, he will pull him apart or what?'
"And he did it many times, he did it with Cristiano [Ronaldo], with Jadon [Sancho], with Marcus [Rashford] also.
"Marcus did something wrong, and the manager just put him out and everyone was like 'wow'.
"I was sitting with David [De Gea], and I said 'this has to be like this' because if not, the younger ones will think 'if he does nothing to him, next one he will do nothing to me too'.
"So he demanded there from Rashy 'you have to be consistent in everything', not only in your game and your goals and your performance, but off the pitch also."
Fernandes also said the biggest change in Rashford this season has been his "confidence" as the 24-goal forward has powered United's quest for silverware.
Ten Hag's side are still alive in four competitions - the Premier League, the FA Cup, the League Cup as well as the Europa League - with a hugely significant week ahead.
First, they welcome Barcelona to Old Trafford on Thursday, with a place in the last 16 of the Europa League up for grabs, where they would join the likes of Arsenal and Real Sociedad in the draw.
Then, just three days later, they take on Newcastle in the final of the League Cup at Wembley, which will be Ten Hag's first chance to win a trophy with the club he joined last summer, and United's opportunity to end a silverware drought dating back to 2017.
Fernandes believes Rashford's form will make him a decisive player as the season-defining matches approach.
"For me, confidence," Fernandes replied when asked what has changed the most in Rashford.
"Marcus with confidence, not that he's unstoppable at the moment, but he's someone that can change the game.
"The confidence on Marcus - and also on Jadon, for example - is a big lift for them to feel like 'wow, I'm in a good moment, I know that I can create things, I can generate things'.
Fernandes also added that team results are more important to him than individual stats.
"It's not any problem for me to be behind Marcus on stats, because he's our striker, our winger - I want them to score goals. I want Sancho to get back and get his goals," he said.
He continued: "I want to keep the stats, I won't lie, I want to score goals - everyone wants to score goals.
"But I want to have results, and the results this season have been much better than all the seasons I've been here, so that's the most important thing."
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You can watch the full episode on BT Sport 2 from 18:30 ahead of the game between Manchester United and Barcelona on Thursday evening
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