“The main thing is…”: Bruno Fernandes dismisses historic hype as he sets his sights on Europa League glory | OneFootball

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has insisted he is not at all concerned with making history by becoming latest club captain to lift a European trophy, instead highlighting that his full attention is on beating Tottenham Hotspur and leading his side to victory in the Europa League final.

United are set to take on Tottenham in the Europa final at San Mames on Wednesday evening.

A triumph in Bilbao will not only secure the Red Devils a trophy but also guarantee them a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Ahead of the highly-anticipated clash, Fernandes accompanied Ruben Amorim and Harry Maguire to the pre-match press conference and answered questions from journalists.

Fernandes said, “We obviously talk about the Europa League and it’s everything that is in our minds because we play the final tomorrow. We can be successful in the Europa League in this competition. We know that in the Premier League we have not been as good as we want and all the other cups the same, because our aim is always to get to the end of all competitions and win trophies.”

“Obviously as you said, I’m not here thinking I’m going to be one of the captains that’s lifting the European trophy.”

“It’s a very good feeling and I’m very proud of it but at the same time, the main thing for me is that the team gets to bring the trophy back to Manchester because everyone will have a chance to lift the trophy or whatever. The main thing is that the red shirts lift that trophy.”

Asked about the importance of being back in the Champions League, Fernandes answered, “It is very important. The manager has been very clear with that.”

“We want to be at the top of everything. Everything we are involved in. We know it is not always possible to be in finals and win trophies. ”

“But our aim and our goal is always to be at the end of competitions and fighting for the possibility of winning trophies and that’s what we want. Tomorrow we have a big chance in a competition where our aim since the beginning of the season was being in Bilbao for the final.”

“We have a big game, a big final, and a big opportunity to get silverware.”

On what winning the Europa League would mean, Fernandes stated, “Every game that you have a chance to win a trophy is very big. Apart from that, every game at this club is massive. This club is so big that one week you can be the hero, the next week you can be the villain.”

“We just want to get our hands on a trophy. It won’t change the past, but what it can affect is the future.”

“Winning a competition gives you a lot of things; in this case you get a place in the Champions League and revenue in the club. It gets more players wanting to come to the club. What I think is at this club it doesn’t change much in that aspect because every player wants to play for Man United and it’s a thing that will never change because the name of this club speaks for itself.”

“But the main thing for us is to focus on what we have ahead of us. It’s a massive final against a team we know very well, but in a competition that is very different from the Premier League, so it’s going to be a completely different game.”

United vs. Tottenham kicks off at 20:00 BST.

Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images

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