Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has said that the club's players must demonstrate that they have the capabilities to represent the Red Devils during a difficult period in their history.
Fernandes spared Man United's blushes in the Europa League on Thursday night, coming up with a last-gasp winner against Rangers, and the victory has placed the team in a strong position when it comes to reaching the knockout round.
The Red Devils are also through the fourth round of the FA Cup, but they continue to struggle in the Premier League.
Man United are 13th in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday's clash with Fulham, and Fernandes has said that the team must attempt to "punch back" and show character during a difficult period.
Fernandes also addressed head coach Ruben Amorim's claim that this is "the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United".
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Fernandes calls for Man United players to show character during tough period
"The reality is to play here you have to have that pressure, you have to have the balls to play for this club - that is what it is," said Fernandes.
"You have to feel that in every moment in every game it is a new chance to bring us back to the position we deserve. Unfortunately for us this season there have been too many ups and downs and every time we look like getting there, we get punched again and go down.
"What we have to do is every time we take a punch and go down, we must get up and try to punch back.
"I don't want to hear my manager saying certain things about the team because I know he doesn't feel it. But he made himself part of that and when the manager makes himself part of what he's saying, no one can get angry or disappointed by it.
'When he says "the worst team in Manchester", he speaks about the position we are in and when you look at where we are in the league we are in the worst position we've ever been.
"So you have to take it, that's the reality unfortunately. We are in this position for a long time and the club doesn't belong there. But we have to accept that and understand we need to push ourselves to much bigger things and higher positions."
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Man United are entering a crucial stage of their campaign
Man United will be aiming to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they head to Fulham on Sunday night, before taking on FCSB next Thursday in their final match in the league phase of the Europa League.
The Red Devils will then be back in Premier League action at home to Crystal Palace on February 2, before welcoming Leicester City to Old Trafford in the fourth round of the FA Cup on February 7, so it is a crucial period for Amorim's side.
Fernandes has scored nine times and registered 11 assists in 32 appearances for Man United this season, and he will again captain the 20-time English champions at Craven Cottage.
Matt Law
