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Bruno Fernandes knows Manchester United have a \u201cmountain to climb\u201d if they are to keep their Champions League campaign alive following Wednesday\u2019s chaotic late defeat at Copenhagen.<\/p>\n
A night that began with talented Rasmus Hojlund\u2019s brace against his former club ended in a crushing 4-3 loss sparked by Marcus Rashford\u2019s contentious red card late in the first half.<\/p>\n
United boss Erik ten Hag was unhappy with that decision and disputed the Copenhagen goals that quickly followed from Mohamed Elyounoussi and Diogo Goncalves.<\/p>\n
Fernandes put Ten Hag\u2019s 10 men back ahead from the penalty spot in the second half, only for Lukas Lerager and substitute Roony Bardghji to inflict United\u2019s third defeat in four Group A games.<\/p>\n
It leaves the Red Devils bottom and facing an early Champions League exit, with defeat at Galatasaray sealing that before hosting already-qualified leaders Bayern Munich in their final match.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a mountain to climb, so we must climb,\u201d captain Fernandes told UEFA after the defeat at Parken.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have two games and we have to win those two games.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore tonight, our aim already was to win our remaining three games. We couldn\u2019t win today. We have to win the next two.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fernandes continued that theme when speaking to MUTV, saying: \u201cYou have to win them if you want to keep in the Champions League and stay in the best competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to win against the best, so we have a really tough game away against Galatasaray and after, we play against the top of the group.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to win both but now we have to focus on Luton (in the Premier League on Saturday) because it\u2019s going to be a tough game again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need three points in the league, we need to get back to the winning track after this defeat and keeping on the winning track in the Premier League.\u201d<\/p>\n
Obviously the mood is not the best because I think we’ve fought so hard with 10 men<\/p>\n
United\u2019s clash with promoted Luton will be key to the mood around Old Trafford heading into the international break.<\/p>\n
Defeat in Saturday\u2019s Premier League match would send the club into a tailspin on the back of some poor performances and a galling loss in Denmark.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think for everything we did in the game, we could \u2013 and we should \u2013 have got something from the game,\u201d disappointed skipper Fernandes said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s difficult at the moment. Obviously the mood is not the best because I think we\u2019ve fought so hard with 10 men.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven from then, it was playing against a team that plays really good on the ball and apart from that, many decisions that were against us.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday was a tough day but I think the team effort was good, we tried.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could have done some things better, but it was difficult for us from the 30 minutes on, playing with one player less.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rashford\u2019s red card is sure to be pored over in the aftermath but United dealt well with being a man down after half-time.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, of course, we understood that we could get something from the game, we could win the game there,\u201d Fernandes added.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut obviously, as we said, it\u2019s difficult to play so long with 10 men.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn some moments they will get spaces because you\u2019re running behind the ball, you\u2019re trying to get into everywhere with every player.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s difficult to cover so much space and they got their two goals to win the game.\u201d<\/p>\n