Bruno Fernandes has claimed that 'factors outside the dressing room' have played a role in Manchester United's underwhelming start to the season. United had gone nine matches without a win across all competitions before defeating Roma in the Champions League.

Fernandes converted a spot-kick to break the deadlock for United at Old Trafford, with Matheus Cunha then scoring twice as Michael Carrick's team clinched a thrilling 3-2 league phase victory.

Nevertheless, United have been faltering in the Premier League and sit 17th in the table, with one match remaining before the November international break.

Fernandes has spoken candidly about the difficulties he and the club have encountered this campaign and has offered explanations for why results have fallen short of expectations.

"It's a question of confidence," Fernandes told TNT Sport Brazil. "At this club, it's difficult when results are negative. There are a lot of factors outside the dressing room, outside of the players and the backroom staff, which make the performances of the club and what we can do on the pitch more difficult.

"It affects a lot of players. Some deal with it better, some worse. We set high expectations for ourselves, and when things don't work out, we end up mentally crushed by the frustration of not being able to give the club what we believe we're truly capable of.

"When the situation is like this, there isn't just one problem. There is more than one. There are a lot of things to improve, to do in a different way. Unfortunately for us, it's been happening for a long time, which makes things more difficult.

"We know that no one at this club [likes to] not be winning. When you sign for this club, represent this club, it's because you want something more. Unfortunately, it hasn't been the case in the last few years."

United will now turn their attention to their final league fixture ahead of the international break, facing Aston Villa at Old Trafford this weekend.

Carrick 'takes responsibility' as position hangs in balance

In a separate interview on Tuesday evening, Fernandes pledged his support for Carrick, just a fortnight after publicly questioning the manager's tactical approach, which led to the Portugal international being dropped before being reinstated to the starting eleven.

"The club needed that win, the players needed that win [vs Roma], it's something that we needed as a group of players. We've been working so hard to get out of this situation together," Fernandes told Amazon Prime on Tuesday.

"It's been tough, there's been a lot of speculation in the media, a lot of lies around many things that happened in this club between me and the manager, like that we had clear-the-air talks. Nothing like that happened.

"The manager took a decision to put myself on the bench [vs Chelsea] because I wasn't performing and that's fair, everyone felt it was a punishment for the words I said, and if it was, it was right. The manager is the one who makes the decisions; I have to accept them, I have to go forward with them.

"It doesn't change the belief I have on the manager, on the staff and every player in this club, and it doesn't change my aim to win every f****** game ahead of me."