Bruno Fernandes has been told he’s one of few Manchester United stars with a winning mentality (Image: Getty)
star Bruno Fernandes is “surrounded by waste”, according to former Red Devils player Gordon Strachan. The Scot has provided a brutal assessment of ’s players, suggesting they are prioritising over a “winning mentality”.
United are set to overhaul Amorim’s squad over the next few transfer windows, an exercise which started with the addition of wing-back Patrick Dorgu in January.
Strachan has drawn parallels with the changes Sir Alex Ferguson made to his team in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but suggests it could be harder for United to find players to cultivate a winning culture this time around.
He told Genting Casino: “Alex was clever. He knew he needed to add to what he had by getting (Eric) Cantona, getting (Roy) Keane, people like (Paul) Ince – players like that come in and change the culture to this winning mentality, with professionalism. You cannot say that (Paul) McGrath, (Norman) Whiteside, (Bryan) Robson didn’t have this winning mentality, but they didn’t have the professionalism that Sir Alex demanded.
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
“There’s no players spreading a winning mentality. They’ve been spreading .
“I know what they’re doing, I know what clothes they’re wearing, I know what clubs they’re at. I can see what boat they’re on. But I don’t see any Premier League or Champions League medals.
“Over the last six years in particular, that winning culture has been eroded. United probably have a few people, good ones like Fernandes, who’s not the perfect captain but a good player, and he’s surrounded by this waste. For so many of them, it’s just been good enough to be a Man United player. That has to change.
“Where do you find these players and people? I really don’t know. Because there are probably a lot of people in that dressing room who are desperate to be led just now.
“If you can talk a 24-year-old Bryan Robson, a Keane, a Steve Bruce [into joining] and just drop them in for a year, you’d be fine. Amorim and whoever is in charge of recruitment has to find the new ones. The club has always had win-at-all-costs players, (Jaap) Stam and (Nemanja Vidic) Vidic, (Wayne) Rooney, (Cristiano) Ronaldo it’s all about winning.”
Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS have also come under fire from Gordon Strachan (Image: Getty)
Strachan also labelled INEOS’s reported ‘Mission 21’ ambitions “nonsense”. The plan revolves around finally landing United’s 21st league title.
“I mean, it’s just a load of old nonsense isn’t it, this kind of stuff. There’s too many tangibles that can go wrong,” the former Celtic, Middlesbrough and Scotland manager said.
“I mean, it’s about winning football matches now, immediately. We all know that things have to change at the club, but statements coming out of the club like this are just mumbo jumbo. It’s marketing speak.
“Football fans, United fans, want to see a group of players that give everything for the badge, that want can compete on the pitch. Mission statements should be left in the boardroom. Let’s see it on the grass. These statements are meaningless.”