Bruno Fernandes played a central role in Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Everton on Sunday, a result that sealed the Red Devils’ title in the 2025 Premier League Summer Series.
The match, held in Atlanta, marked the end of their U.S. pre-season tour. With seven points amassed from previous victories over West Ham (2-1) and Bournemouth (4-1), United topped the tournament’s round-robin standings.
Fernandes, who both scored and assisted during the game, spoke optimistically post-match. “It’s improving,” he told Sky Sports, reflecting on the club’s progress. “I think the club is doing the best that they can. We needed more competition for the players that were here. We needed more quality to get everyone to step up a little bit more, to have more to do to get into the first 11. I think that’s what the club is trying to do, the manager, and hopefully we can get one or two players more to help with that.”
United are eager to recover from a dismal 2024/25 campaign that saw them finish 15th in the Premier League—marking their worst performance since the 1973-74 season. With only 11 wins and nine draws out of 38 matches, the season was a disappointment for fans and players alike.
“I think a lot of people have suffered from this,” Fernandes admitted. “The fans pay more for the tickets and we really appreciate all the efforts they do for us. So it’s up to us now players to repay it on the pitch.”
Fernandes emphasized the need for holistic improvements across the club’s structure, saying, “It’s every detail. Every small thing matters. At this football club, you can’t do anything wrong on the pitch and off the pitch because it’s too big worldwide. The culture of this club was winning. It was there. And we need to bring back that.”
On the pitch, Fernandes opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 19th minute after Everton’s James Tarkowski fouled Amad Diallo in the box. Everton responded in the 40th minute with a close-range finish from Iliman Ndiaye, who capitalized on a well-placed assist from Idrissa Gana Gueye.
Fernandes was involved again in United’s second goal. He set up substitute Mason Mount, who had just entered the game minutes earlier, to curl in a well-placed strike in the 69th minute, restoring United’s lead.
However, Everton equalized in the 75th minute after an own goal was credited to United’s Ayden Heaven. The unfortunate deflection came from a Diallo back pass that caught the defender off guard, sealing the 2-2 result.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim also gave a debut start to new signing Bryan Mbeumo, who recently joined the club from Brentford. Mbeumo had missed previous matches as he completed pre-season preparations.
In an earlier fixture, West Ham United defeated Bournemouth 2-0 thanks to goals from Niclas Fullkrug and Jarrod Bowen. The standout performer, however, was new Senegalese left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, whose precise deliveries led to both goals.
“Both goals are down to him, the quality that he’s got, you can see that,” Bowen said. “He has only been here a few weeks but you would think he has been here years. He’s humble. He’s a brilliant guy for the group and he’s obviously a brilliant footballer as well. We’re very excited to see what he can continue to do here.”
Diouf’s first assist came in the 24th minute when his cross found Bowen, who then set up Fullkrug to score. In the 67th minute, Diouf once again found Bowen, who this time slotted the ball home himself.
Bournemouth had a strong start to the match with several early chances but failed to convert, striking the woodwork multiple times in the first quarter-hour. “What I liked was the character about the group. We didn’t have the best start we wanted but we stuck in there,” Bowen said, praising West Ham’s resilience.
What You Should Know
Bruno Fernandes’ leadership on and off the pitch continues to shape Manchester United’s direction as they attempt to recover from a historically poor Premier League season.
His influence was evident in the Summer Series, where his goal and assist helped United claim the title. Speaking candidly about the club’s need for internal improvements, Fernandes reflected a broader push for quality and accountability.
Meanwhile, newcomers like El Hadji Malick Diouf are already making waves for West Ham, signaling exciting possibilities for the upcoming season. These pre-season performances offer a glimpse of what’s to come as teams sharpen their squads and strategies.
