Bruno Fernandes fires warning to Man Utd teammates ahead of crucial Athletic Club semi-final

Bruno Fernandes has warned that Manchester United need to learn from Sunday's disappointing draw against Bournemouth and have "more anger" competing for the ball when it comes to Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg against Athletic Club.

For the second Premier League game in a row, United created more chances than their opponent and still came away having failed to win. Where Wolves had claimed three points at Old Trafford on Easter Sunday from a solitary Pablo Sarabia free-kick, Ruben Amorim's side at least snatched a draw on the south coast when Rasmus Hojlund netted a stoppage-time equaliser.

But Fernandes admitted that was "still not good enough" going into Thursday's European tie at San Mames – also the competition's final venue – that is the most important fixture of the season so far.

"Both teams are very intense with very quick wingers who are very good in one-v-ones," he told Sky Sports ahead of the Athletic game. "We have time now to try and focus on what Athletic are going to do, but we have to focus on what we’re going to do.

"It was very important not to lose [against Bournemouth]. We're not at the best level in the Premier League, so we needed to get something. It's not the result we wanted, but we had to push a little to get something. We did enough to at least score one goal. We created enough chances to score more than one goal, but it's still not enough from us.

"We need to be have more anger than the defenders to get the ball. To get [the ball] first, you need to be focused in everything you do in training. That's what we have to do from now on. We should have done it already and we've been doing it in training, but you need to do it in games.

"Sometimes you get one chance and you score a goal, and sometimes you get 10 or 15 chances and don't score. With the team we have, we need to get more bodies in the box, create more danger, be more active in the box, and outside the box be much more brave to take our chances."

Success in the Europa League this season is vital for United. Not only would it deliver a major trophy and soften the blow of a historically poor Premier League campaign, the prize is automatic qualification for next season's Champions League with the superior riches that has to offer and the appeal to prospective new players in the transfer market.

Without winning the Europa League, United would have no European football in 2025/26 and no additional income at a time when the club needs to bring in every penny it can.

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