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Diogo Dalot has jumped to Bruno Fernandes’ defence and backed the midfielder to return stronger after a difficult start to the season at Manchester United.

Fernandes took over the captain’s armband at United last summer and was one of the club’s few shining lights across an immensely disappointing 2023/24 campaign.

While United finished the season down in eighth place, their worst ever showing since the Premier Leagu’s inception, Fernandes contributed ten goals and eight assists before captaining the club to FA Cup glory in May.

But Fernandes is yet to find the net in what has been a sluggish start to the new campaign and the Portugal international was sent off in the side’s 3-0 capitulation at home to Tottenham last weekend.

However, the Old Trafford giants won their appeal against Fernandes’ controversial three-game ban, meaning the 30-year-old has been given the green light to face Aston Villa, Brentford and West Ham.

He will also be desperate to play a part tomorrow evening when United do battle with Porto in the Europa League, which could be crucial if Erik ten Hag is to remain in the job.

‘It’s not because it’s in Portugal, it’s because it’s the next game,’ Dalot told A Bola when asked whether the match represents a ‘good opportunity’ for his fellow countryman Fernandes to ‘turn the page’.

‘Bruno sees things the same way that I do: we’re players who are constantly looking to improve, we’re demanding of ourselves.

‘He’s no different. He’s already shown that he can perform at a very high level, he knows there are ups and downs, but he manages to maintain a balance and knows that the moment will come.

‘The team needs him. We’ve already shown that we’re a very strong team when he’s doing well. There will always be bad moments, with him and with other players.

‘The question is how we get back on our feet and he’s already shown in the past that he has the ability to get back on track, so I have no doubt that he’ll be very useful in the near future.’

Dalot says United are approaching Thursday’s Europa League group-stage clash with his boyhood club Porto ‘as if it were a final’.

‘We have to approach it with energy,’ the United and Portugal defender added.

‘Unfortunately, it wasn’t the result or performance we wanted [against Tottenham], but the good thing about football is that, three days later, there is a new game and a new opportunity to show better things.

‘The game against Porto is perfect because it is the next one. We have to approach this game as if it were a final, because we’ll need points if we want to go through to the next round and we really want to win the competition.’

Ten Hag reportedly has two games to save his job and Dalot admits United’s players have no option but to ‘change our mindset quickly’ and turn the situation around.

He added: ‘It’s normal to go through a process of reflection because it shows the ability to calmly analyse what had been done, both good and bad.

‘But there’s a maximum period of 24 hours to switch off and start thinking about the next one. It’s almost like closing the game, especially because we don’t have much time.

‘If we continue to live with the previous result and don’t focus on the next game… they’re different games, different opponents, different challenges.

‘We have to change our mindset quickly to be in the best possible shape, physically and mentally.’

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Jamie Carragher has taken aim at Matthijs de Ligt following Manchester United’s 3-0 capitulation at home to Tottenham, claiming the centre-back’s shaky display just ‘summed up’ the side’s defending throughout Erik ten Hag’s reign.

The mounting pressure on Ten Hag intensified as Spurs got the better of United in every department at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

It took the north London club just three minutes to open the scoring through Brennan Johnson, with the Welshman making no mistake from close range after an incredible 70-yard run from Micky van de Ven.

United had chances to equalise but were reduced to ten men in the 42nd minute as Bruno Fernandes was given his marching orders and the situation went from bad to worse after the half-time break.

Dejan Kulusevski doubled the visitors’ lead within two minutes of the restart and Dominic Solanke added a third to put Ange Postecoglou’s men out of sight, consigning the Red Devils to their third defeat of the campaign.

The result leaves United stranded down in 12th place in the table and there have been some calls for Ten Hag to be relieved of his duties, but the Dutchman is expected to remain in charge for the side’s crucial games with Porto and Aston Villa.

De Ligt has endured a rocky start to his United career on the back of a high-profile £43m move from Bayern Munich towards the end of the summer transfer window.

Analysing United’s loss on Monday Night Football, Sky Sports pundit Carragher highlighted several moments where the Dutchman had been guilty of poor positioning which ultimately cost his side.

Watching back at Johnson’s early opener, Carragher said: ‘I’ve noticed this a little bit with De Ligt and a lot of centre backs. I don’t understand why they don’t fill the space and they come over. I see this so much.

‘The striker just behind him has got nothing to do with him, that’s is Martinez’s job. If De Ligt goes over, [Lisandro] Martinez comes across. He’s looking over his shoulder… forget that, forget it! Get here!

‘This was a brilliant run, it was amazing, but Van de Ven runs because he sees the space.’

Johnson came close to scoring a second against United but was denied by the post after a slick counter-attacking move from Tottenham.

According to Carragher, De Ligt displayed poor decision-making by ‘flying across’ in an attempt to steal the ball from Timo Werner before Johnson struck the woodwork.

‘This sums up Manchester United for the last two or three years. Pressing and always being late,’ the ex-Liverpool defender added.

‘Just look at De Ligt come flying across, he comes flying into the challenge, very similar to a challenge he put in against Luis Diaz for Liverpool because it comes from his starting position. ‘

Later on in the first half, De Ligt was again caught in no man’s land and had Andre Onana to thank after the much-maligned goalkeeper denied Timo Werner with his feet.

‘I can talk about Manchester United’s midfield, running through midfield, running at the back four. I’ve been saying this for the last 18 months, that hasn’t changed,’ Carragher explained.

‘But when they win the ball if I’m going to tell you that this player [Werner] within five seconds is going to be running through on the goal… that tells you the problems Manchester United have.

‘The rest of the defence is awful, it always has been when they lose possession. But where’s De Ligt? The right-back has come out here but look where De Ligt is! You’ve got to get over.

‘In every situation in that first half, two massive chances and the goal in De Ligt a player they brought in for huge money in the summer he’s completely out of position all the time so he ends up having to go flying in to challenges and then you leave yourself in a situation where you’re going to get yellow cards or red cards.’

De Ligt will hope to be given the chance to redeem himself when United return to Europa League action away to Porto on Thursday night.

After United’s horror show at the weekend, Paul Scholes questioned the club’s decision to sign the defender in the first place, arguing he was no major improvement on Harry Maguire.

‘When you bring players in, you expect them to be a lot better than who you’ve already got. I don’t see players coming in who are a big difference,’ Scholes said on SuperSport.

‘De Ligt has come in for Maguire, let’s say, but there’s no big difference there.

Asked whether De Ligt is a £50m improvement on former club captain Maguire, Scholes replied: ‘No, absolutely not.’

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No Manchester United player emerged from Sunday’s disastrous defeat to Tottenham with their reputation intact.

But Diogo Dalot has been hit with the most damning criticism with the full-back’s role in the game’s opening goal labelled ‘criminal’, ‘unthinkable’ and ‘indefensible’.

United found themselves a goal behind after just three minutes with Micky van de Ven capitalising on some meek pressing from Marcus Rashford to pick the ball up in his own half. The Dutchman burst past four United players in a remarkable surge up the pitch to tee up Brennan Johnson, who was unmarked to tap home from yards out.

Johnson was able to stride into the box unchallenged with replays showing Dalot failing to follow his man into the box, seemingly giving up on the edge of his own box.

Noussair Mazraoui, Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte and Matthijs de Ligt were all unable to deal wit with van de Ven’s run but Danny Murphy highlighted Dalot’s role as the worst in the act.

‘That is the wors part of this goal,’ Murphy told Match of the Day 2. ‘He [Johnson] has made up 12 yards, they started level. Look at Dalot’s reaction. That is just unthinkable’.

Former United right-back Danny Simpson was equally dumfounded by Dalot’s position when Johnson opened the scoring.

‘I see the cross coming, and for Brennan Johnson to have that much space at the back post, I think it’s criminal,’ he told MUTV.

‘I think that’s Dalot’s position, I’m not sure whether he was inverted from midfield or at full back, and he needs to recover.”

‘Diogo Dalot had his hands up apologising – but you can’t have that at any level.’

Another former United star in Tim Howard meanwhile effectively accused Dalot of quitting.

He told NBC Sports: ‘Dalot’s almost stride-by-stride, slightly behind Brennan Johnson. All he needs to do is kick it into another gear.

‘Instead, he stops and puts his hand up. He knows he doesn’t give an effort. It’s indefensible. You can’t protect players when they don’t give 100 per cent effort – particularly at home.’

Dalot has been ever-present at left-back this season, slotting in with Luke Shaw still recovering from injury.

Erik ten Hag is expected to remain in charge of Manchester United for crucial games against Porto and Aston Villa despite mounting pressure on the Dutchman.

United turned in a dismal display against Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday, thrashed 3-0 for the second home league game in a row.

They were swept aside in similarly dominant fashion by Liverpool four weeks ago with another alarming performance this weekend leaving Ten Hag’s future at the club in real doubt.

Sunday’s performance against Spurs was described as ‘disgusting’ by Gary Neville with another former captain in Ashley Young urging players to hold a crisis meeting today without their manager present.

Things do not get any easier for Ten Hag with a Europa League meeting away to Porto looming on Thursday before a trip to Aston Villa on Sunday – United’s final games before October’s international break.

But despite the mounting pressure with concern within the club rife, The Telegraph report there are no plans for an immediate change in the dugout with Ten Hag still retaining the support of the club’s hierarchy.

Chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox watched on from the stands stony-faced as United were dismantled on Sunday.

Ten Hag retains their backing for now, but is in dire need of some positive results before this month’s international break.

United have failed to score in three of their last four league games and are already eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool after six games played. With Chelsea and Aston Villa starting the season well, major doubts are already emerging over their top four credentials.

United’s European campaign started with disappointment last Wednesday, held to a 1-1 draw at home to FC Twente. Ten Hag has won just one of his last nine European games as United boss following last season’s disastrous Champions League campaign and take on a Porto side who have won six of their seven games this season.

United opted to stick with Ten Hag during the summer following the club’s FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City, triggering an option to extend is contract to 2026.

Thomas Tuchel was among the managers United officials spoke to before making that decision with former England boss Gareth Southgate also admired by INEOS.

Ten Hag dismissed suggestions he was on the brink of losing his job on Sunday.

‘No, I am not thinking about this,’ he said. ‘We all made this decision to stay together, as an ownership, as a leadership group in the summer.

He continued: ‘We are all on one page or in one boat together – the ownership, the leadership group, the staff and the players as well. I don’t have that concern.’

Gary Neville made an honest admission to a Sky Sports commentator after seeing the Manchester United v Tottenham team sheet for the first time.

United suffered a dismal 3-0 defeat to Spurs at Old Trafford on Sunday, sparking serious speculation over the future of under-fire manager Erik ten Hag.

Tottenham were ahead inside four minutes as Micky van de Ven was allowed to storm into the United box from his own half and put it on a plate for Brennan Johnson at the back post.

Manchester United were second best for almost the entirety of the opening 45 minutes and their task got that bit harder when Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a late tackle on England midfielder James Maddison.

Spurs doubled their advantage almost immediately after half-time through Dejan Kulusevski before Dominic Solanke added a third for the visitors.

Old Trafford legend Neville was optimistic about Manchester United’s chances in the days leading up to the match but says his confidence drained after seeing the team sheet.

‘I got the team sheet before the game and I was confident about Manchester United coming to the game today,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast to football commentator Peter Drury.

‘But I got the team sheet and I think I said it to you actually in the Sky Sports truck, I looked at the teams and I thought, Tottenham’s team is better.

‘I said that before the game. I know it’s a simple thing but you’ve got these ideas about the game beforehand but then you look at teams and think Tottenham’s is better and I’d actually rather that team than United’s.

‘That’s a worry. Ange Postecoglou has had nothing like the money to spend that Erik ten Hag has. But they’ve got a good team. Spurs fans will have loved that today and so they should do.’

Neville described Manchester United’s performance against Tottenham as ‘absolutely disgusting’ and said he was ‘shocked’ by the display.

The defeat leaves United just 12th in the Premier League after six matches, closer to the relegation zone than the top-four.

‘The first half was as bad as it gets,’ said Neville during Sky Sports’ commentary of the game ‘This is a shocking day, a sobering day.

‘This is a really bad day for Ten Hag. It’s one of the worst performances I have seen under Ten Hag. And that is saying something. It is really bad.

‘Today has shocked me how low they’ve gone. It was a really bad one.

‘I know that David Moyes had some bad ones in the early days, so has Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] along the way, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ralf Rangnick, but that felt like one of those days today where they sank really low.’

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Paul Scholes said Manchester United looked like an ‘uncoached team’ after the side’s abject 3-0 defeat to Tottenham and questioned the signing of Matthijs de Ligt.

The Red Devils’ dismal start to the 2024/25 campaign continued at Old Trafford, with Brennan Johnson breaking the deadlock inside just three minutes to send Spurs’ away support into raptures.

Bruno Fernandes was shown a straight red card for a reckless foul on James Maddison in the 42nd minute and the situation went from bad to worse for the hosts as a pair of second-half goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke put the game to bed.

The result means United remain stranded down in 12th place in the Premier League table and there will be intense pressure on Erik ten Hag to get a result away to Aston Villa next weekend.

‘You don’t know how they’re going to play,’ legendary ex-United and England midfielder Scholes said on SuperSport.

‘You don’t know how they’re going approach games, whether they are going to play on the counter-attack or sit deep or whether they’re going to try to have all the possession in the game. We’ve no idea. They look like an uncoached football team.

‘We’re two and a bit years in now… from the first week Ange Postecoglou went in, we probably knew what Tottenham were doing and they’re doing it to this day.

‘We’re two and a bit years down the road [at United] and, as I said, it’s an uncoached team.

‘The players looked dead today, they looked flat, they looked, “I don’t know what to do”, there’s no enthusiasm for the game of football and that can only come from the training pitch.

‘Some of the positions that people take up on the pitch, it’s just madness at times.’

Scholes was critical of United’s recent recruitment and believes £43million summer arrival De Ligt is no improvement on Harry Maguire, who has made just two starts in the league this season.

‘When you bring players in, you expect them to be a lot better than who you’ve already got. I don’t see players coming in who are a big difference,’ Scholes said.

‘De Ligt has come in for Maguire, let’s say, but there’s no big difference there.

Asked whether De Ligt is a £50m improvement on former club captain Maguire, Scholes replied: ‘No, absolutely not.’

Scholes hopes United players stop making ‘excuses’ and instead find a way to start getting results before Ten Hag’s position becomes untenable.

‘These are experienced players who United have paid a lot of money for,’ he added.

‘We need to stop hearing excuses and get on that training pitch and find a way of playing.

‘Find something, give us something!’

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Ashley Young took aim at Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho following Manchester United’s dismal 3-0 defeat to Tottenham, claiming the duo played with ‘no confidence’ at Old Trafford.

United gave themselves a mountain to climb after a nightmare start to the game, with Brennan Johnson striking inside three minutes before Bruno Fernandes was shown a red card for a reckless challenge on James Maddison.

Joshua Zirkzee and Garnacho both squandered chances to equalise but goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke put the game to bed in the second half, with Erik ten Hag’s substitutions failing to turn the tide.

The result leaves the Red Devils stranded down in 12th place, eight points behind league leaders and arch-rivals Liverpool after six matches.

Spurs, meanwhile, moved up to eighth with the victory and will look to make it five wins from five in all competitions when they return to Europa League action away to Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros on Thursday evening.

Young, on punditry duty with Sky Sports, urged United’s players to hold a ‘crisis meeting’ ahead of their trip to Porto, with the likes of Rashford and Garnacho appearing to be lacking in confidence at the Theatre of Dreams.

‘I think it just showed today, where you’ve got the two wingers going one-v-one and instead of going to attack the space in behind, they’d rather go back and play the safe pass,’ the former United star, now with Everton, said.

‘That’s when you know you’ve got a winger with no confidence.

‘As a winger previously as well, when you’re here, when you see a one-v-one, that’s when your eyes light up, that’s your time to shine.

‘When players are not doing that, turning it down and wanting to go backwards, it’s not the way to be doing it.

‘It’s one of those things. They are going to have to have a meeting between themselves and work out what is going wrong.’

According to Young, United seemed ‘happy’ for Tottenham to have the lion’s share of possession and need to ‘get back to basics’.

‘You want to be on the front foot, you want to be attacking, you want to get the fans on side, you want to work hard,’ he added.

‘There’s none of that out there and that was just shown today that the players just look lost.

‘We had a DNA at Manchester United where you’re on the front foot, you go and press teams, you squeeze teams, you get the ball back, you get corners, you get throw-ins… there was just none of it.

‘It was like they went out today and they were just happy for Tottenham to have the ball and over the years that’s not been the Manchester United way.

‘What is going to be the change? I do think there needs to be a crisis meeting.

‘Those players in that dressing room need to have a look at themselves and have a meeting together without any staff there, just with the players, and work out where it’s going wrong, what’s happening and what they need to do.

‘It’s getting back to basics because what is going on right now, the basics are not being done.’

Young continued: ‘There’s too much individuality out there. You’re not really seeing a team and you’re not seeing that togetherness.

‘Christian Eriksen said in the week that FC Twente wanted it more. That’s not even possible.

‘There’s no way you can have a team that wants it more, especially when you’re at home and you’re starting the season wanting to get rid of what happened last season, what happened in the last few years.

‘I’ve been here when it was successful, I’ve been here when it wasn’t successful. It’s a difficult place but you know when you’re in this club that you’re part of that DNA, you know the size of the club, you know where you can take the club to and it’s just doing the basics.’

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Tottenham have issued a statement condemning the ‘abhorrent’ and ‘unacceptable’ homophobic chanting heard from the away end during the side’s 3-0 defeat of Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke secured Spurs a comprehensive victory over Erik ten Hag’s ten-man United, with the hosts reduced to ten men after Bruno Fernandes sending off in the 42nd minute.

It was a fine performance and a fourth win on the bounce from an in-form Tottenham, who rose to eighth in the Premier League table with the result.

But the win has been somewhat overshadowed by despicable chanting heard amongst Spurs’ away support at the Theatre of Dreams, believed to be aimed at United midfielder – and ex-Chelsea star – Mason Mount.

The north London club wasted little time in denouncing the chanting and vowed to cooperate with the police and stewards inside the stadium to identify those involved.

‘The club is aware of abhorrent homophobic chanting from sections of our away support at Old Trafford today,’ a statement on Tottenham’s official website read.

‘This is simply unacceptable, hugely offensive and no way to show support for the team.

‘The club will be working closely with the police and stewards to identify anyone instigating or joining in with the chanting – we shall take the strongest possible action in accordance with our Sanctions and Banning Policy.

‘Supporters in attendance today can report anything they’ve seen or heard in confidence to supporterservices@tottenhamhotspur.com

‘We shall be continuing our work with our LGBTQ+ supporters’ association, Proud Lilywhites, to ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans on matchdays.’

The statement underlined that Tottenham were ‘proud’ of their fans but had a responsibility to crack down on instances of discrimination.

‘We are justly proud of our superb and loyal support, home and away,’ the statement continued.

‘However, we all have a responsibility to act as ambassadors of Tottenham Hotspur and discrimination of any kind has no place at our club.’

Tottenham fan Nigel Carrington was fined £300 and convicted of a hate crime after chanting homophobic abuse in the side’s Premier League clash with London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in January 2022.

The following February, another supporter was arrested following complaints of homophobic chants during Tottenham’s 2-0 defeat of Chelsea.

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Jamie Redknapp and Ashley Young felt referee Chris Kavanagh made a mistake sending Bruno Fernandes off in Manchester United’s woeful 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham.

Brennan Johnson sent Spurs’ away support into raptures after just three minutes at Old Trafford, making no mistake from close range after an incredible 70-yard run from Micky van de Ven through United’s defence.

The visitors squandered a number of opportunities to double their advantage as the first half wore on, perhaps missing their captain Son Heung-min in the final third.

But United’s woes deepened in the 42nd minute as Fernandes was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Spurs attacking midfielder James Maddison.

The video assistant referee checked and confirmed referee Kavanagh’s initial call and the decision was universally panned in the Sky Sports studio during the half-time break.

It was the first time in Fernandes’ 242 appearances for United that the Portugal international had been given his marching orders.

The situation soon went from bad to worse for the Red Devils as goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke put the away team out of sight in the second half.

Asked whether he thought Fernandes’ red card was justified on first viewing, ex-Tottenham midfielder Redknapp replied: ‘No, he slips.

‘He goes in to try and win the challenge and you can see his feet go under him.

‘It’s petty, it’s a bit petulant. You can see he sticks out his right leg and that angle is quite damning.

‘But when you actually see it in slow motion, his feet go under him and he just sticks out his right leg. I think it’s a yellow card.’

Former United winger Young agreed with Redknapp that Kavanagh had ‘got it wrong’ as it was not a ‘reckless’ challenge from Fernandes.

‘I don’t think it’s serious foul play or it’s reckless,’ Young explained.

‘Okay, he’s out of control but he slips and you can clearly see that he slips.

‘I don’t think he even goes to take out James Maddison either. He hits him with the back of his heel as well.

‘I think the referee has got it wrong there.’

Gary Neville, meanwhile, on co-commentary duty for Sky Sports, said Fernandes’ sending off ‘summed up’ United’s dismal showing in the opening 45 minutes, with Erik ten Hag’s men booed off at the halfway stage.

‘It just sums up Manchester United in this first half and, to be fair, they’ve veen an absolute disgrace,’ an irate Neville said.

‘It’s one of the worst performances I’ve seen in Erik ten Hag’s time at United and that’s saying something.

‘It’s really bad and he will not be able to believe what he’s watching in that first half.

‘I’m not talking about patterns of play here, I’m talking about application towards a football match.’

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Gary Neville took aim at Marcus Rashford after Tottenham’s early opener in a comprehensive 3-0 win over Manchester United, blasting the forward’s ‘rubbish’ play prior to the goal.

The Red Devils – looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing goalless draw at Crystal Palace last time out – went behind just three minutes into this afternoon’s contest and were booed off the field at half-time.

Brennan Johnson got his name on the scoresheet but the goal was all about Micky van de Ven’s scything 70-yard run in the build-up, with the Dutch centre-back robbing Rashford of possession before bursting through United’s defence with an incredible turn of pace.

After beating fellow countryman Matthijs de Ligt, Van de Ven put the ball on a plate for an unmarked Johnson at the back post and the Welshman made no mistake from close range to break the deadlock.

The situation soon went from bad to worse for United as Bruno Fernandes was shown a straight red card in the 42nd minute before goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke put the away team out of sight in the second half.

‘Absolutely brilliant from Van de Ven. One of the best runs I’ve ever seen from a centre-back,’ Neville said of Johnson’s goal on Sky Sports’ commentary of the Premier League clash.

‘Van de Ven just steps in and this is absolutely incredible.

‘He drives through four Manchester United players and the cross, well it’s just wonderful.’

The former United and England right-back blasted Rashford for clumsily giving away possession before criticising De Ligt for his lacklustre defending to allow Van de Ven to get a cross away.

‘I mean Rashford there… he just carries on running, rubbish from him,’ Neville added.

‘There’s enough players back to be able to stop him but he’s unstoppable. De Ligt starts off running too late and he completely misreads the pace of the Spurs centre-back.

‘It’s amazing. Absolutely brilliant and devastating from Van de Ven and Spurs. He [Johnson] is smiling before he puts it in the net.’

United’s afternoon went from bad to worse as club captain Bruno Fernandes was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on James Maddison in the 42nd minute.

‘It just sums up Manchester United in this first half and, to be fair, they’ve veen an absolute disgrace,’ Neville added.

‘It’s one of the worst performances I’ve seen in Erik ten Hag’s time at United and that’s saying something.

‘It’s really bad and he will not be able to believe what he’s watching in that first half.

‘I’m not talking about patterns of play here, I’m talking about application towards a football match.’

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