Five of the previous six finals featured an English club, and two of those contests featured four clubs from the Premier League. Fernandes thinks that Premier League teams may have an impact in Europe if they play well there.
After scoring in the 4-1 victory over Chelsea, he remarked, “I think every team that plays in the Premier League can compete in the Champions League if you do the right things.
Although United’s one-year banishment from the Champions League is over, they have struggled to compete at the top level in Europe since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement ten years ago.
In that time, there have been two quarterfinals, with losses to Bayern Munich in 2013/14 under David Moyes and to Barcelona in 2018/19 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The competition’s recent high point was the comeback victory over Paris St-Germain in the round of 16 in Paris that year.
Although there have been defeats in the round of 16 in 2017/18 and 2021/22 and exits from the group stage in 2015/16 and 2020/21, United has the power to threaten in Europe and Premier League teams are beginning to exert a stranglehold on the competition.
Five of the previous six finals featured an English club, and two of those contests featured four clubs from the Premier League. Fernandes thinks that Premier League teams may have an impact in Europe if they play well there.
After scoring in the 4-1 victory over Chelsea, he remarked, “I think every team that plays in the Premier League can compete in the Champions League if you do the right things.
Naturally, the Champions League is always a different situation because you play against Spanish clubs who play really well on the ball, Italian teams that are really good, and German teams that we all know are clinical.
It’s a great location to be, but you always discover that there are those teams that everyone refers to as the small ones who surprise everyone when you travel to play against them. We want to be there, so we must have fun and give it our all. I believe we possess the skills necessary to play well and secure a position.
“I think it’s the best competition you have in Europe. Everyone wants to participate in this competition. It’s amazing to be back at this competition because it has some of the top clubs in the world.
Although there were some obvious low points during the season, Fernandes stated that United’s qualification for the Champions League was not a relief and that their confidence in doing so never wavered.
Erik ten Hag and his team have had a successful season after also winning the Carabao Cup, which he termed as a “obligation” for United to enter the competition.
However, Fernandes argues that the season has been “positive” rather than “successful” and that the FA Cup victory over Manchester City at Wembley won’t be the season’s defining moment.
“It’s been a positive season, not successful because successful is different for this club and it has to be for us players too,” he remarked.
We did take home a trophy. We reach the last four. We currently have another final, but no matter what happens there, our season will remain the same. A season with so many games can’t be defined by one game.
Old Trafford’s performance this season has been crucial to United’s domestic victory. They are unbeaten in 29 games in all competitions and have not suffered a league loss there since the season’s first day.
“I think everyone has seen that it has been really important for us, not just this season, I think last season when we struggled, the fans have always been there to support us,” stated Fernandes.
“As a result, we can’t declare right now that they’re present this season. Evidently, you have a little bit more faith in them and a stronger sense of connection, but they have always existed.
“Since I joined the team, I believe they have always been behind us, and it’s always better when you get results,” he said. People become offended if you don’t, and we can see why.