Bruno Fernandes says this will be a positive campaign rather a successful one for Manchester United even if they win the FA Cup.
Erik ten Hag took over a side in disarray last summer after the disjointed Red Devils stumbled home sixth under interim Ralf Rangnick.
The Dutchman quickly improved the quality and mindset at United, who lifted February’s Carabao Cup and overcame some bumps in the road to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Thursday’s 4-1 win against Chelsea secured a top-four finish with a game to spare and this season could get even better if the beat Manchester City at Wembley on June 3.
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Asked if this season counts as a success already or whether it depends on winning the FA Cup, skipper Fernandes said: “No, no.
“It’s a positive season, not successful because successful is different for this club and for us players it has to be too.
“We did win a trophy. We get into the top four. Now we have another final but whatever happened in that final will not change anything about the season we have done.
“One game can’t define a season that has been long with so many games and we’ve been doing really well and we had our moments that we could have done better, obviously, because if not we would be in a better position than we are actually.
“But still we went to win the Carabao, we’re in the final of FA Cup, in Europa League could have been better, but it is what it is.
“Now, we have the chance to finish in the best way at home against Fulham and after we have time to think about City.”
Ten Hag said after beating Chelsea that this had been a “successful season” for United, but he is unlikely to be annoyed by Fernandes’ comments to the contrary.
After all, the 28-year-old is driving standards on and off the field as the 20-time champions look to launch a first sustained title bid since last winning the Premier League a decade ago.
“(Champions League qualification) is not a relief,” Fernandes said. “I think everyone was aware that it was really important for us to get the top four.
“I think at the same time everyone was really convinced that we will do it.
“We should have done it a little bit early in the season but obviously we had those two away games that we didn’t get any points and it complicated our counts.
“But we get it today and that’s the most important. We get into the top four.
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“After we couldn’t fight anymore for the league title we had to fight for our top four and we did it today.
“We are really happy to be in the Champions League next season. But obviously, it’s kind of an obligation for this club to be in these positions.”
Fernandes scored along with Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Fernandes as they saw off wasteful Chelsea 4-1 to put them third in the standings heading into the Premier League finale.
That result extended their unbeaten run at Old Trafford to 29 matches in all competitions and means victory against Fulham can see them equal the club record of 27 home wins in a season.
“I think everyone has seen that (bond with the fans) has been really important for us, not just this season,” Fernandes said about United’s home form.
“I think last season when we struggled, the fans have been always there to support us.
“So, we can’t be now saying that this season they’re there. Obviously, you feel a little bit more belief on their side, you feel more the connection, but they’ve always been there, they’ve been there.
“Since I arrived at the club I think they’ve been always supporting us and obviously when you get results, it’s always better. When you don’t, people are upset and we understand that.”
While United look to end the season on a high, Chelsea just want the campaign to end.
Already assured of finishing in the bottom half after an embarrassing season, interim boss Frank Lampard’s side were second best at Old Trafford.
Young midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka said ahead of the season finale at home to Newcastle: “We’re in a difficult period.
“There’s been a lot of transition and change but it’s clear we aren’t playing well enough at the moment. We need to give a lot more for the badge.”
Arsenal can fight for Premier League title again despite falling short in 2022-23, claims Willian
Willian understands the frustration Arsenal will have after their failure to push on for the Premier League title, but believes the Gunners can challenge again next season.
Arsenal came close to ending a 19-year wait for a top-flight title before a late-season collapse saw incumbent holders Manchester City seize another crown.
The manner of Arsenal's faltering finale represented a dramatic downturn after they had led the Premier League table for 248 days of the season.
Willian, who spent a single campaign at Emirates Stadium during the 2020-21 season, has backed his former club to be challengers again soon enough.
"When I was there, I could see that Arsenal had a bright future ahead of them very close because of the way [Mikel] Arteta was working," the Fulham attacker told Stats Perform.
"The way I saw him working the team, I had no doubt that Arsenal would be back fighting for the top in the next few years.
"Unfortunately, they were fighting with a team that [is on] another level. It's an outstanding team. It's not easy to fight for the title with Manchester City.
"They must have a sense of frustration. They were fighting for the title the whole [season], and they let the title slip away practically.
"But they are back in the Champions League. Of course, there must be a bit of frustration, but they have to be happy with what they did.
"Without a doubt, Arsenal [had] an excellent year, and they have everything to fight for the title again next season."
City's latest title is their fifth Premier League crown in six seasons under Guardiola and looks poised to form part of a generation-defining treble with the FA Cup and Champions League finals to come.
The latter in particular remains the chief honour left for the club to win, and Willian believes that it is Guardiola's intelligent grasp of his squad that makes them such a threat.
"I think Guardiola, with his ideas, [is key]," he added. "He converges that with the execution of the players, which are, as they say here, "top class" players.
"I heard Guardiola once say that he gives the ideas, he tells them what to do, but they also have to have quality on the pitch. Otherwise, it's no use.
"He is a great manager, I think the best in the world in years, and together with the quality of the players on the field, City is very strong and hard to be beat."
Willian backs 'best manager' Mourinho for more European success with Roma
Jose Mourinho ranks as the best manager Willian has worked with and the former Brazil attacker hopes more European honours will be heading the Roma coach's way.
Willian was part of Mourinho's Chelsea squad as the Blues secured a Premier League and EFL Cup double in 2015.
The Fulham winger and Italian coach have since gone their separate ways but Willian still holds Mourinho in the highest of regards, hoping his former boss can lift yet another trophy this season.
Mourinho has guided Roma to the Europa League final, in which they face Sevilla, and Willian made it clear where his allegiances lie for that showpiece on Wednesday.
"For me, Mourinho is the best manager I've had, I always say that," he told Stats Perform. "In the way he works every day, in the way he talks, in the way he motivates.
"He is a different manager and, for me, the best I've had. As he says: 'The special one'.
"I hope that he wins this trophy because he is a manager that sometimes gives a lot of people the impression that he is arrogant or something like that.
"But on a daily basis, we see that he is a great manager. He jokes when he has to, and he hits hard when he has to.
"He's real. When you don't play well, he says it in front of you, but when you play, he says it too. He's a great manager, an amazing manager.
"He is a winning manager, and he has a chance to win another title in his career."
Victory over Sevilla would secure Mourinho's sixth European title of his managerial career, having lifted various UEFA trophies with Porto (two), Roma, Inter and Manchester United.
The most recent of those successes came last season as Roma triumphed in the inaugural Europa Conference League with a final victory over Feyenoord.
German Jorg Schmadtke named Liverpool sporting director
German Jorg Schmadtke has been appointed as Liverpool’s new sporting director.
The 59-year-old, who left a similar role at Bundesliga side Wolfsburg at the beginning of 2023 after more than four years, will take up his post on June 1 once work permit formalities have been completed.
He will replace Julian Ward, who is due to leave the club this summer after more than a decade.
Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon told the club’s website: “Firstly, I would like to welcome Jorg to Liverpool Football Club in the knowledge that he will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience into a role in which such qualities can only be beneficial both to him and us.
“Jorg will work with our football operations department as it continues to provide support for Jurgen Klopp, in keeping with our ongoing endeavour to keep growing and developing the club in all areas.
“At the same time as we welcome Jorg, we must also bid a fond farewell to Julian Ward, who has served us with unstinting diligence, fortitude and energy in a number of roles, the most recent one being sporting director.
“We wish Julian and his young family the very best for the future and thank him for everything he has done for Liverpool FC during the past 11 years.”
Former goalkeeper Schmadtke made more than 300 Bundesliga appearances for Fortuna Dusseldorf, Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach during his playing career before moving into administration.
He had spells at Cologne, Hannover and Alemannia Aachen before joining Wolfsburg.
Schmadtke joins a club which, by compatriot Klopp’s admission, endured “a bad season”, finishing fifth in the Premier League and missing out on Champions League football next term as a result.
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