Manchester United News: ‘Ambitious’ Bruno Fernandes Could Cause Revolt Against Solskjaer, Arsenal Legend Suggests

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Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright believes “ambitious players” like Bruno Fernandes could eventually push back against Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and even get him fired if the club fails to progress.

The Red Devils appeared to be serious contenders at one point after beating Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League. However, the team wasn’t able to maintain its fine form and suffered back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Istanbul Basaksehir.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s “Kelly & Wrighty Show,” Wright weighed in on United’s situation. According to the pundit, Fernandes’ rumored dissatisfaction, which may also apply to other United players, might have been fueled by Solskjaer’s incompetence as a manager.

“What you’ll find is, especially the ambitious players – the ones who want to get to where Man United are supposed to be,” Wright said. “The players will start saying things because they want a manager who’s going to push them. (like) Bruno Fernandes, you’re hearing little snippets that he’s not happy for some reason.”

“You watch how he’s playing and his body language in some of the games, you’re thinking, ‘what are the training sessions like? Is he getting what he needs to get out of it?’” the former Gunner said of Fernandes. “It’s not happening and that’s got to come from the coaching and the manager.”

Wright added that while Solskjaer may have been able to please everybody as a person, his players need more than just his charisma at this point.

“That’s what’s going to start happening because as much as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seems like a nice bloke and everybody likes him, you get to a certain level as a player where you’re thinking, ‘that’s not enough for me, I need more than this,’” he said.

Fernandes, meanwhile, recently downplayed the tension between him and Solskjaer, saying that the manager believes in him and his tactics “are perfect.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United are just outside the Champions League places Photo: AFP / Paul ELLIS

Despite the criticisms, Solskjaer insisted that United still has his back and the recent losses are just a few setbacks.

“I am going to say all my conversations with [United] the club have been planning long-term,” Solskjaer recently said in a media conference. “Of course you can enjoy [the pressure]. I am not happy being under pressure, as you say. The pressure of leading and managing Man United is a pressure that you have to have strong shoulders and a strong head to carry but it’s also the same way the other way.”

“I’ve never really (been) in too dark a place,” he continued. “When I was not playing well or when the team is not doing well, I didn’t get too carried away when I played well or when the team is doing well.”