Manchester United lost against Brighton last weekend (Picture: Getty)
Teddy Sheringham has slammed Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes for his unrealistic Premier League hopes for the club this season.
Despite a disappointing league campaign last season, Fernandes renewed his commitment to the club by signing a new long-term deal until 2027.
Over the summer, the midfielder told the Players’ Tribune that he believed his side could get back competing for the league title this season.
‘I just want my expectations to fit with the expectations of the club. If you go talk to any fan, they will tell you the same thing. We want to compete for the league. We want to be playing Champions League football. We want to be in cup finals. That is the standard,’ he said.
But after a stuttering start to the campaign which saw them fall to a late defeat against Brighton last weekend, the United captain has come under fire from Sheringham for his lofty pre-season hopes.
‘If Bruno Fernandes thinks that Manchester United can challenge for the title, then that’s incredibly optimistic in my book,’ the former United striker told Prime Casino.
‘I don’t think the transfer activity has been of the required standard for Manchester United to get close enough to the top clubs in the Premier League and the football is far too inconsistent. For those two reasons, I think a title challenge this season is unrealistic.
Bruno Fernandes said he wanted to see United competing for the title this season (Picture: Getty)
‘Bruno is the captain of the football club, he has to speak with confidence when he talks about the club’s ambition this season, but United are a long way off challenging for the Premier League title and I think the Brighton defeat demonstrated that.’
United will look to get back to winning ways this weekend but face a tough task at home against arch-rivals Liverpool.
And Sheringham fears Erik ten Hag’s side may struggle to keep Liverpool at bay at Old Trafford due to their ‘kamikaze’ tactics.
‘With the football United play, they are far too open,’ he said. ‘They give the opponent far too many chances. It’s a kamikaze brand of football that is full of risks.
‘They are gambling in matches, and sometimes it goes for them, and sometimes it doesn’t. The best teams don’t gamble like that.
‘I don’t think anything has changed. I just see inconsistency at Manchester United.’
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