Bruno Fernandes admits it is ‘going to be hard’ for Manchester United to qualify for the Champions League after the Premier League loss against Manchester City.

An unbeaten start to 2024 came to an abrupt halt at home to Fulham last weekend and, having edged past Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, was compounded by another league defeat on Sunday.

Marcus Rashford put unfancied United into a shock lead at the Etihad Stadium, only for fabulous Phil Foden’s brace and a stoppage-time Erling Haaland strike to seal City a 3-1 derby win.

“Obviously we’re disappointed,” skipper Fernandes said after the defeat, adding: “I think we could have got something from the game, the effort from the team was there. Everyone tried really hard to get the result today, but it wasn’t possible.

“I said at half-time I felt that the team was doing everything we could to defend our box. We know that at moments we had to defend deep and be together and be compact and help each other.

“We did it but obviously I think today the difference was the individual quality from the players of City that made them win this game.”