Bruno Fernandes admits 'I wanted to have won more' at Manchester United but believes Premier League title 'dream' still alive
Updated 01/06/2026 at 20:28 GMT+1
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Bruno Fernandes has admitted he expected to win more trophies during his six years at Manchester United, but is optimistic that can be put right under Michael Carrick.
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The midfielder joined United in early 2020, and has so far only enjoyed success in the Carabao Cup in 2023 and FA Cup in 2024.
"Obviously, I wanted to have won more, it wasn't quite what I had expected for myself and for the club," Fernandes told ESPN.
"But I had very good times. We managed to reach some finals, some of them we won, others we didn't.
"But my goal has always been to win the biggest competitions and the Premier League is part of it. And I still have that dream in me and I hope to achieve it."
Those two trophies for Fernandes came under the management of Erik ten Hag.
In a period that is typical of United's turbulent story since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, Ten Hag's dismissal in the autumn of 2024 was followed by Ruben Amorim being in the dugout for just over a year.
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Carrick then took over as interim boss in January, with United beating Manchester City and Arsenal in his first two games. The former Reds midfielder guided the team to a third-placed finish in the Premier League, and the return of UEFA Champions League football to Old Trafford.
Fernandes clearly believes a lot of credit should go to Carrick for the upturn in United's fortunes.
"I think he brought a very positive energy to the team," Fernandes said.
"He tried to be very positive, because obviously we were in a moment of coaching transition, which is always a difficult time for the team.
"He tried to be positive, obviously he brought new ideas and a different way of playing, which was also important for some players to find an escape to be protagonists again.
"And it's been good, obviously, because the results demonstrate that too. We hope that we will continue to do so."
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Michael Carrick issues instructions to Bruno Fernandes during January's Manchester derby
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Fernandes was named Premier League Player of the Year for an outstanding season of performances, albeit in a campaign of just 40 games for the club - given United's immediate exits in both domestic cups.
The 2026/27 season promises to be a far tougher proposition all round for Carrick and his players.
United forward Matheus Cunha also praised the impact Carrick has had since taking charge.
"It's been incredible," Cunha said. "Honestly, it's impactful. He looks at us now and you already want to have the same results he had.
"But he is someone who constantly tries to pass on that root of what Manchester is, of what it is to arrive at Old Trafford and win games, and to feel that vibration of the fans pushing you and pushing the team, regardless of what happens.
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"He jokes a lot because Manchester United has to have a different adrenaline to play, we have to play by risk.
"And I think that's very beautiful, especially to bring back those moments of glory, to rescue that period that he knows so much about, that he participated in so much.
"I think that he brings it to us in a very emotional way, to be very sincere, that it touches us so that we are also slowly placing the pebbles in our castle so that we can build it too."
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