sport news Captain fantastic Bruno Fernandes is Man United's own superhero... the new era ... trends now
At the very end, as fans headed for the exit, Jason Wilcox chuckled as he shared a brief conversation with Sir Dave Brailsford.
Wilcox, United’s newly-appointed technical director, was watching on at Old Trafford for the first time since his appointment became official last week.
The content of his conversation remains a mystery. But what he saw was, again, a team besieged by problems, but one that has its very own superhero in captain Bruno Fernandes. It is scary to think just where they would find themselves this season without him.
‘For all the chaos that surrounds Manchester United,’ Micah Richards pondered on Match of the Day last night, ‘I just think for a player to keep his composure and be able to perform at the level which is needed is fantastic.’
Here Manchester United found themselves down 2-1 at home to the worst team in the league just days on from blowing a 3-0 lead at Wembley against second tier Coventry City. The post-mortem promised to be ugly.
Bruno Fernandes came to Manchester United's rescue in their 4-2 win over Sheffield United
The Portuguese scored United's second goal from the spot as the hosts drew level
He then put United ahead in the second half with a superb long-range effort
And just like he needed to that day, Fernandes would again put United on his back to turn things around. At Wembley it was a momentum-shifting penalty in the shootout, while on Wednesday night it was a goal-goal-assist sequence to take United from 2-1 down to 4-2 up.
He first slotted away a penalty for 2-2 after Harry Maguire was hauled down; then, he scored spectacularly from distance; he finished by teeing up Rasmus Hojlund with a pin-point cross across the box.
Fernandes has a warrior-like spirit that doesn’t win the credit it deserves.
While Ten Hag was left to field another patched up team - he still only has one fit senior centre back available and was without Marcus Rashford for this one - Fernandes was again available to play, this time with some heavy strapping and bandaging on his right hand.
‘He shows his leadership,’ Ten Hag said. ‘But also with his energy, in his transition both ways, it is very important.
‘He tries to encourage the team. He is doing very well and we are very pleased with his performance and with his attitude.’
It would be easy to say that Fernandes finds himself reborn of late, only that would overlook the fact that he tops their scoring chart and assist chart for the entire season.
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