Manchester United have been dubbed "lazy" in light of Bruno Fernandes laying into them during a furious rant after they were comfortably brushed aside by local rivals Manchester City earlier this month.
Pep Guardiola's side made light work of their neighbours by beating them 6-3 at the Etihad, courtesy of hat-tricks each from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden. A late brace from Anthony Martial and an earlier strike from Antony spared the blushes of Erik ten Hag's men who were comfortably second-best for all of the game.
It has since been reported that Fernandes did not hold back when telling his teammates exactly what he thought of their collective efforts as a team. The 28-year-old was one of two players, alongside summer signing Lisandro Martinez, to scream and shout in the dressing room while Ten Hag let the whole saga play out.
While some may feel as if Fernandes' outburst is unhelpful towards team morale, he has received some support from former West Ham striker Frank McAvennie who praised the former Sporting star for saying what he thinks.
"When you are getting beaten, it is embarrassing," the ex-Hammer Football Insider. "Fernandes has been there, seen it, done it. Him screaming at players is a good thing.
"[Cristiano] Ronaldo tried to talk to them when he came but he said nobody was interested. What a scathing thing to be called that. Fernandes shouting and balling, it is a good thing and they need more of it. It doesn’t matter who the manager is, the best manager in the world could not turn that team in to winners.
"There are too many lazy people, too many people not chasing the ball and not doing the basics. They lose the ball and they fling their hands up in the air, it is embarrassing. Players have got to be fighting for their place. They must be lazing about in training. I think the team is all over the place."
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Whatever Fernandes said in the wake of City's rampant victory had the desired impact, as United responded with two wins from their next two games against Omonia and Everton respectively.
The second of those two victories was particularly vital considering United had been leapfrogged by Newcastle earlier on that weekend with the Magpies' 5-1 hammering of Brentford.
After the win at Goodison Park, Fernandes spoke to BT Sport about the "togetherness" in the squad, exactly a week after his Etihad outburst.
"It's a big three points for us and important to get back on the winning track," he claimed. "We want to show this spirit, this togetherness and we need to carry on this, because this is what made us win four games in a row and made us win today."
