Bruno Fernandes has described the atmosphere at Manchester United as 'not positive' and admitted that he prefers working with the Portugal set-up in his latest assessement of life at the embattled club.
The Red Devils are in the throes of the worst start to a Premier League campaign in their history under manager Erik ten Hag, and sit 14th in the table after seven games.
Man United have gone into the international break on the back of two shaky draws - the first against Porto after conceding a two-goal lead, and the second a 0-0 stalemate against Aston Villa.
The Dutch manager will also be interested in results raising morale, which his captain revealed was being challenged by the tricky start.
'It's not a positive moment,' Fernandes said, via the Sun, putting the spirit among the team down to 'not winning games' and confirming that 'the national team space is completely different.
'I've felt very at ease, the dynamics are good,' the international continued. 'I'm in my country, I speak my language and I have better food.
'I have demonstrated a good level in the national team.
'It's a space where I feel good and I feel like I can enjoy my football at a very high level, due to the dynamics we have and the quality I have at my side.'
Although Fernandes received the second red card of his Man United career against Porto and will be unavailable for upcoming travails in Europe, his first - handed down to him days earlier during the side's sobering 3-0 defeat against Tottenham - was overturned on appeal.
As such, the midfielder will be able to feature in must-win clashes against Brentford and West Ham when Premier League action resumes next week.
Fernandes stressed that his focus is firmly set on 'improving as soon as I get there (back to Manchester).
'Making goals appear again because I'm a midfielder that scores a lot of goals and has over the years always shown a very high level of goals.
But the midfielder will be able to take part in upcoming Premier League action after his red card against Tottenham was overturned
'I have to live up to those expectations and to my standards. What I have been doing is not at all what I want for this season because I haven't scored at the club yet.
'I hope that once I get there, I can score and help my club get back to winning ways and be at a good level.'
The 30-year-old will hope to bolster his form at international level on Saturday evening in the first of Portugal's two Nations League ties against Poland.
Fernandes - who scored against Scotland and registered an assist against Croatia during the last round of international ties - will then play Scotland for the second time in Group 1 before returning to Old Trafford.