Bruno: Academy players are in the DNA of this club

Manchester United triumphed over Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday, with goals from teenagers Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

Captain Bruno Fernandes reflected on what a difficult season it’s been for United when talking to the BBC, while also explaining the motivation to put in the performance required to lift the cup.

It’s a long season, it was difficult. It was our last chance to get something positive from the season. We’ve been here last year, we were not good enough go up the stairs and lift the trophy, so we had to see them doing that. This season is the other way around. 

We played a great team. They have great qualities, great players, a great manager. We had to go there to suffer. We had to sacrifice, but we also had to put some quality into the game. And we did great things.

Mainoo was named Man of the Match in his first cup final in professional football, with Fernandes more than happy to compliment the young star and hail the impact of United’s Academy.

He’s really good. He’s such a such a quality player. You see the composure that he had in the finishing. But part of the DNA of this club is the young players who come through the Academy onto the biggest stage in the world. They showed it again.