Bruno Fernandes admits the Manchester United players welcome their condensed fixture schedule despite acknowledging the difficulties posed by the relentless run of matches.
United played their 50th match of the season against Sevilla in midweek and have at least another 11 more to come before the season ends. Their total could rise as high as 65 games should they win next week's FA Cup semi-final against Brighton and Hove Albion and reach the Europa League final in Budapest.
Despite the daunting scheduling, which could yet stretch into early June and see them play every midweek until summer starts, Fernandes welcomes the challenge as it offers opportunities to win more silverware this season.
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"We want it to be like that [busy] because we want to play in different competitions," Fernandes told club media before the weekend's match against Nottingham Forest. "We still have the chance to win two of them, and we still want to be in the top four.
"So it's nice to be in that position. It's tough, but it's nice at the same time." The Portugal international has shouldered a heavy workload as part of Ten Hag's team this season, playing more minutes than any other player, including goalkeeper David de Gea.
Fernandes has missed just two matches, November's defeat away at Aston Villa - while serving a suspension for yellow card accumulation - and the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Charlton Athletic.
More remarkably, the midfielder has made all but one of his 48 appearances from the start, with the opening Europa League group stage game versus Real Sociedad the only exception, when Fernandes came on as a substitute at half-time.
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