Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes revealed that he was fired up Ruben Amorim’s recent scathing criticism of the team.

The Portuguese boss infamously derided his side as “the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United” after they were consigned to a convincing 3-1 defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

That loss was United’s tenth league defeat of the campaign – more than relegation-scrapping Everton have suffered this season. Amorim has sought to clarify his comments over the subsequent days and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe isn’t concerned that the frank critique of his players will backfire.

Fernandes certainly took it well. After snatching victory for United against Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday night, the skipper was asked whether Amorim’s comments ‘fired him up’. “To be honest, myself, yes,” he admitted. “Because I don’t want to see my manager saying certain things about the team. Because I know he doesn’t feel that.”

Amorim’s public outburst came after he reportedly smashed a monitor in United’s dressing room during a furious post-match speech which is entirely out of character. “I’m pretty sure in a moment of rage – I am Portuguese, we feel it very quick, the blood comes out very quick – is their moment,” Fernandes said of his compatriot, before explaining the effect that managing this iteration of Manchester United can have on a figure of any disposition.

“I was here with Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer], one of the calmest people I ever met, and he had this rage at the players sometimes,” the playmaker noted.

“When you’re in a position as a manager you want to win games, you depend on the results, and sometimes you need to have these kind of words to your players. It wasn’t nothing out of context. We deserve in the moment to listen. He made himself part of that, so when a manager makes himself part of what he’s saying no-one can get angry or disappointed by that.”

United head to Fulham’s Craven Cottage on Sunday night wounded by a run of six defeats from their last nine league games. “The reality for us unfortunately, we are in a position where this club has not been for a long, long time. Doesn’t belong there,” Fernandes continued.

“We have to accept that, and understand that, we need to push ourselves to much better things and much higher positions, because the reality is to play for this club you have to have the pressure, you have to have the balls to play for this club.

“It is what it is and you have to feel that in every moment in every game, there is a new chance to bring the club back to the position it deserves.”