Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has admitted the players felt inspired after seeing fans holding a banner urging them to “play like they mean it” before Saturday’s 1-0 win over Fulham.
Following weeks of underwhelming performances and questions being asked about the commitment of the players, fans held the banner aloft before kick-off calling for more desire.
United had to dig in at times during the match but came out on top thanks to a late winner from Bruno Fernandes, who steered the ball into Bernd Leno’s bottom corner in stoppage time to ease the pressure on the team.
After the game, McTominay – who had an early goal disallowed for offside – confirmed the banner had made an impact in the dressing room.
“We seen it, we seen the banner before the game and a few of us said, ‘You know what? The fans pay good money to come and watch us every week and the support is relentless towards us every single week’,” he told TNT Sports. “We just want to repay them as best we can. Things aren’t going the best at the moment but it’s building blocks.
“Step by step and with the manager, the coaching staff, we trust them a lot, we trust the players and I feel we can go and kick on and do better.”
Before the match, McTominay had urged his teammates to “fight like dogs” and he was satisfied with the response to his message.
“Sometimes, when everyone is against you, you’ve got to do it your own way, come together and fight like dogs,” he said after the full-time whistle. “It’s a building block. I thought we did more than enough to win the game in the end.”
McTominay’s optimism was echoed by Fernandes, who praised United‘s work rate as they battled to a much-needed three points.
“Everyone knows the situation is not the best,” the captain acknowledged. “The last two games weren’t the performances we wanted to give, and the results obviously.
“Today was a different game. We had to deliver something different, and we delivered. We got the three points and that’s most important.
“It’s about the team, what everyone does on the pitch. It was a game where everyone sacrificed, everyone ran, everyone worked harder. Even with the goal, you could see the reaction of the players trying to get the ball.”
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