Fernandes never wants Man Utd fans to get used to losing feeling

Ruben Amorim described his side as possibly the worst in United's illustrious history after a demoralising 3-1 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford last weekend.

It required a late intervention from captain Fernandes to get back to winning ways in the Europa League on Thursday, with the Portuguese playmaker volleying home a fine effort to secure a 2-1 win over Rangers after Cyriel Dessers had cancelled out Jack Butland's comical own goal.

Speaking to TNT Sports after that game, Fernandes said he felt like United had made a positive start to 2025 before the Brighton setback and wants United supporters – who have seen their team lose 10 Premier League matches this season – to not experience the losing feel too much longer.

"Obviously we know how much it means to the fans to win these games and it means the same to us, you really want to win games," he said.

"We started well this year with two great games against Liverpool and Arsenal, then Southampton we had good resiliency but didn't play brilliant football.

"Then we had the game with Brighton when everything went wrong for us. It's not about proving the character, we have to prove that in the 90 minutes we can't only show that when we concede a goal.

"We have to find a way to win the game, unfortunately for us we conceded a late goal and had to score a late winner. In this club you have to win every game, if you don't there will be tough moments. I hope our fans can never get used to losing games, even in this tough experience."

Some group. pic.twitter.com/TKT8RIaeTg

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) January 23, 2025

Fulham were beaten 1-0 by United in the reverse fixture on the opening game of the season but are residing 10th in the table and still harbour European ambitions.

Midfielder Sander Berge, though, says the Cottagers will pay full respect to their opponents despite their domestic struggles.

Speaking to Fulham's official website, he said: "They have world-class players there's no doubt about that.

"They beat (Manchester) City away, they beat Arsenal away in the FA Cup, drew against Liverpool – so that just shows the potential in that team.

"They're always a very tough task, we have to respect them for what they are and what they can do on the day, they will always have a little extra confidence no matter what, they're that good they know they can turn a game around at any minute.

"So, we have to be at our very best. We're excited, it's a game under the lights, at home, those are the games you want to play."

Wilson has created 14 chances in the Premier League for Fulham since the turn of the year – the most of any player.

He has created at least three chances in all three of his Premier League matches in 2025, having only achieved that feat three times in his first 110 appearances between 2019 and 2014.

Plenty of United players need to step up on Sunday, and Onana is certainly one of them after his error for Brighton's third goal last weekend.

Onana has made three errors leading to an opposition goal already this season, the most by a United player in a single campaign since David de Gea made three in 2019-20.

His save percentage of 63.6% in Premier League action this term is the lowest recorded by a United goalkeeper since Anders Lindegaard in 2012-13 (55.3%).

Keeping a clean sheet in his th Fulham game. pic.twitter.com/K52MVtxIBU

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) January 21, 2025

Fulham have won just one of their last 18 Premier League games against Man Utd (three draws, 14 defeats), earning a 2-1 win at Old Trafford last season.

United tend to enjoy visiting Craven Cottage, too. Since losing twice away to Fulham in 2009 (0-2 in March, 0-3 in December), the Red Devils are unbeaten in eight Premier League visits to the ground, winning their last seven in a row (one draw).

However, United have lost six of their last nine Premier League matches, winning two and drawing one.

Should they fall to another defeat here, it will be the first time they have endured a run of seven losses in a span of 10 league games within the same season since 1988-89.

Since losing the reverse fixture against United 1-0 on the opening day of the season, Fulham have only failed to score in one of their 21 Premier League matches, a goalless draw against bottom side Southampton in December.

The Cottagers are averaging 1.6 goals per game in 2024-25, their best ratio in a Premier League campaign, while their 14.1 shots per game are their most since 2011-12 (14.2).

Fulham – 47.3%

Manchester United – 26.4%