Fernandes admits to letting down teammates with reckless challenge, defends his motive behind red card - Man Utd captain

He expressed, "I simply wanted to have a conversation and be authentic because my teammates deserve it for their efforts in the game, especially playing with a man less. It was me who was sent off, the one who disappointed them."

"The team showed a lot of character, a lot of resilience, a lot of fight. They tried. It wasn't easy. 

"Never a red card, that is my view. I agree that it is a foul but it is never a foul. The referee tried to tell me that as he saw it was a clear contact with the studs, no. I didn't touch him with the studs or even the foot, it was my ankle. It is a clear foul.

"If he wants to give me a yellow because they are going to go on a counter then I agree. But more than that, no. It is not the case."

On the game being tough before the red card, he added: "Yes I think we struggled a bit. We tried to force it a little bit, to rush it and go too quick. When they have the high line we made mistakes on the ball and then we got punished and it didn't go the way we wanted from there.

"Then the red card makes it worse. I have to appreciate all the effort my team-mates have done to try and return to the game but it wasn't possible. They showed great effort and character and I was happy for that."