Fernandes justifies Solskjaer's angry response to dressing room question

Bruno Fernandes issued a defiant response to the commitment of Manchester United's players amid suggestions they were no longer playing for their manager.

The Red Devils have been in a poor run of form, losing four of their last six before Wednesday's nights comeback victory over Atalanta.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has come in for heavy criticism as he begins his third full year at the helm.

Several lacklustre performances had seen some question the player's and their belief in their manager.

But their talisman insists the squad are on board with Solskjaer's ideas despite their lack of silverware.

Fernandes told TNT Sports : "Of course, obviously, he is our coach. We follow him every day. We show that. We follow his ideas and we will continue to do so.

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Man Utd came from 2-0 down to beat Atalanta

"We believe in our coach and our staff… we need to do what the coach tells us because our coach is the maximum exponent of what we must respect.

"He has been here for three years and we've done good things. It's true that we haven't won anything up to now, but the team has shown it has grown a lot.

"We have a lot to improve on and the coach also knows there has to be some improvement at their end but that is part of football. Every day we are learning something new. But football is the present and it's the now."

United produced a poor first-half showing against Atalanta in the Champions League and trailed 2-0 at half-time.

Boos rang around Old Trafford before the Red Devils stirred in the second-half with Cristiano Ronaldo completing the comeback.

Solskjaer hailed his team's efforts and hit back at suggestions his the dressing room had lost connection with him as his interview referenced a "rocky old week".

And Fernandes' insistence that the players remain right behind their manager - as well as the manager of the comeback - appear to justify Solskjaer's frustration that their attitude might be questioned.

The Norwegian fired back: "Don't even start. Don't disrespect the players.

"They play for Manchester United and they know they're the luckiest men in the world. I said that to them tonight.

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"They're the luckiest men in the world, the [starting] 11 and the subs are the ones who can also play for Man United and that's what so many millions of boys and girls want to do."

United will host Liverpool on Sunday at Old Trafford with the Merseysiders favourites to knock over their rivals.

Solskjaer's side already find themselves off the pace in the league and out of the Carabao Cup at this early stage of the season.