Ahead of the new Premier League season, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was interviewed by Roger Bennett, host of the Men in Blazers podcast. He reflected on his experience of breaking the Premier League single-season assist record, and the Portuguese midfielder also discussed his outstanding performance under Erik ten Hag's tactical system, the relationships he has built with new signings and academy players, and how his playing style has evolved since joining Manchester United. The following is the first half of this exclusive interview.

The interview was recorded before Manchester United's first Premier League match.

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Host: It's an honor to have you back on the show. This is Mr. Bruno Fernandes.

Bruno Fernandes: Hello, Roger.

Bruno, we last spoke in April. At that time, Manchester United won five of their last six games and secured a Champions League spot. Now you're here at the start of a new season. What are your goals for the upcoming campaign? What is the minimum requirement for Manchester United that would make you proud?

For me, the goal is to win every game. I don't accept anything less than that. Every game we play, we want to win. We won't approach it with any other mentality. I think this club must never deviate from this goal. As a team, I believe we have the ability to face any opponent in every match, and to do so without fear.

I want to talk about the upcoming season, but first we need to look back at last season. There were moments when it genuinely felt like you were controlling the game exactly as you wanted, dictating play the way you chose. What does it feel like when you deliver a truly exceptional assist? Do defenders appear to be closer together, and passing lanes seem to open up? Did everything feel different mentally for you last season?

I've said many times that I don't think it's entirely about my assists. It's more about my teammates scoring goals. If you look at my game, it hasn't really changed. I know people want to suggest something has changed, but my creativity, the number of chances I create, or whatever people want to call it, has always been among the best in the league. The only difference is that my teammates have been very clinical in front of goal. That's the key to getting assists. But I think nothing is more important than players scoring goals.

Do you really believe that? Are you saying: "Lads, I could have recorded 21 assists every season."

Maybe even more, but I'm very happy to see my teammates score goals. I hope our strikers continue to score. Obviously, if I have the chance to help them score more often, I'd be delighted. Not because I get the assists, but because they score more goals.

Let's explore that. Last season in the Premier League, you scored 9 goals and provided 21 assists. Those statistics roughly translated to 30 goal contributions for the team. Can you describe how your role in Erik ten Hag's midfield system differs from other tactical systems you've played in?

Before Erik arrived, I was playing a bit deeper, more involved in controlling the tempo and circulating the ball from deeper areas. Obviously, this kept me further away from positions where it's easier to create chances. In the attacking third, it's far easier to create chances than from deeper positions. But at the same time, I was creating space and time for teammates to create opportunities and feed our strikers. The main change was that I played in a more advanced position, and the team's dynamics shifted because we adopted a different tactical system. This probably allowed us to have more players in the box and more passing options in the attacking third.

The squad has been reshaped again this offseason. Young Brazilian midfielder André brings intensity and technical quality, and Youri Tielemans has also joined the team. You're a player who likes to receive the ball high up the pitch early, while Tielemans is comfortable operating on the half-turn. Can you talk about the partnership you've developed during your initial weeks of training and playing together? What qualities of Youri have impressed you the most?

First of all, Youri is a very experienced Premier League player, having played here for many years. He has exceptional quality on the ball. Everyone knows how wide his passing range is. And his finishing is also outstanding. He has an excellent record with long-range shots from outside the box, and that's exactly what we need from him. I think he brings experience and composure to midfield. He can move the ball forward quickly, find space and gaps for the players ahead, and give us time to control possession and make better decisions. When you play alongside a player who can do that from a deeper position, it's excellent.

And regarding André, he's excellent at pressing and winning the ball back, and he can quickly drive the ball forward, breaking through the opponent's lines. If I remember correctly, both players were among the league leaders last season in progressive passes. That's crucial for players operating ahead of them, because it means you're constantly receiving the ball in advanced positions.

You've said that for Manchester United to compete consistently across all 38 games, what's needed is consistency and total focus in every match. Bruno, how do you maintain that state of mind? Is it something the team can develop through training, or must it be cultivated in other ways?

I think it has to be developed in different ways, but it also needs to be ingrained in our mentality. Every player must understand that winning one game is not enough. For example, our opening match against a newly promoted team will be very challenging. Their stadium will be buzzing because they're back in the Premier League, and their first test is against Manchester United. That creates immense pressure and difficulty for us. So if we want to achieve something, the immediate priority is to win that first game. Then, we must instill in ourselves the mindset that winning one game is not enough, winning two is still not enough, and winning three is far from enough.

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