In support of Bruno Fernandes, Nani asserts that his Manchester United teammates aren’t putting up the same amount of effort as he does.

Wednesday night’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle at Old Trafford sealed United’s elimination from the Carabao Cup, adding insult to injury to their current downward spiral.

While everything was going on, Fernandes was criticized by Roy Keane for his performance in United’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City last weekend, saying that the Portugal international had to be relieved of his leadership.

In an interview this week, Gary Neville stated that he thinks Fernandes would be better off without the United armband since the midfield player is “trying to be everything.”

Nani, who played 230 games at United, however, is certain that Fernandes is setting an example for his teammates, and he believes they should be doing more to follow.

“When we used to play at Manchester [United], one of the things that defined the club was that you could be losing 3-0 with 15 minutes, 10 minutes left in a game, and that’s when you saw what mental strength means,” Nani told 1 PARA 1.

“It’s no longer about talent, it’s about pushing the ball into the goal. We did that, we did what was necessary.

Now, when you watch Manchester play, you see a lot of talent, maybe more talent than in our time in terms of technique, and they’re all technically gifted.

But when you watch the game, there’s no spirit of sacrifice, no fighting spirit… a real player, a star, at Manchester, has to unlock the game – if they don’t, it won’t work.”

“Manchester already has great players. We have Bruno Fernandes. If Bruno Fernandes wasn’t playing well, I’d criticise him too, but for example, the sacrifice and effort he puts into the game, he does it.

‘We see it. He works hard, gives his all, and contributes. It’s just that many others don’t keep up with it,” the former Man United star add.