Erik ten Hag has ordered his Manchester United stars to put their bodies on the line and play through the pain barrier to clinch a top-four place.
United are still fighting to secure a top-four finish and automatic Champions League qualification for next season. As well as pushing for an immediate return to the Champions League, United have an FA Cup final showdown with neighbours and bitter rivals Manchester City on June 3.
United made their push for a top-four finish harder by blowing a 2-0 lead at Tottenham on Thursday to draw 2-2 and end up dropping two points.
But the big positive Ten Hag took from the game was captain Bruno Fernandes, who played the full 90 minutes, despite suffering with a foot issue picked up in the FA Cup semi-final shoot-out win over Brighton four days earlier.
Fernandes was pictured wearing a protective boot ahead of the Spurs game, to increase his chances of being available to lead the team out for such an important clash.
Ten Hag hailed Fernandes for leading by example and told the rest of his squad to follow his lead and give everything between now and the end of the season – even if they are not fully fit.
"It was tough, so it's a big compliment to Bruno,” said Ten Hag. "He absolutely didn't want to miss this game and he did everything to get fit. I think he's the example, that you have to suffer, that you have to sacrifice when you want to play at the top level, when you want to achieve something.
"So, once again, he showed how great a captain he is. How he has taken the responsibility, even when he's not 100 per cent fit. But he did the job, and he was important in the game as well. Hopefully others in the team can - not learn - but see him as an inspiration and do the same."
United have already won the Carabao Cup this season, in Ten Hag's first season in charge, to end their six-year trophy drought. Ten Hag's side have the chance to make it a Cup double by beating City in the FA Cup final to wreck their hopes of emulating United's 1999 Treble haul.
Of more immediate concern to Ten Hag is securing a top-four finish, with the United boss challenging his players to win every remaining game this season.
“At Manchester United, a top team, you have to compete and go for the win in every competition you are in,” said Ten Hag. That's what we're doing. That is the culture we want to construct, so that's what we’re doing. That has to be in the mindset of every player and every employee who is working for Manchester United."
