Football

Fernandes Praises Team Performance Following Victory Over City

Fernandes Praises Team Performance Following Victory Over City
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates with Casemiro after scoring his side first goal to level the score at 1-1 as Manchester City players appeal to referee Stuart Attwell during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Picture date: Saturday January 14, 2023. - Photo by Icon sport

Manchester United attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes revealed to the media that he told his teammates that they were playing like a real team before the side’s dramatic comeback against Man City in the Manchester Derby on Saturday afternoon.

The playmaker scored the equalizer in the 78th minute after City’s Jack Grealish had sent the visitors to Old Trafford ahead on the hour mark. Fernandes’ equalizer was somewhat controversial in that the City players claimed that the offside Marcus Rashford interfered with play before Fernandes scored, but referee Stuart Atwell allowed the goal to stand.

Rashford netted the winner for the Red Devils on 82 minutes after he got on the end of a dangerous Garnacho cross. Now United find themselves in third place in the English Premier League, just a point behind their intra-city rivals.

Fernandes Praise of His Team

The Portuguese playmaker spoke to BT Sport after his team’s big win over Man City.

‘It’s always important to win the game but as I said before the game for us it doesn’t matter [about] the opponent, the most important [thing] is winning and we did it,” Fernandes said.

“It was an amazing comeback, a great effort from the team,” he added.

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Asked about the controversial equalizer he scored with 12 minutes of normal time remaining, Fernandes remained steadfast in believing the decision to allow his goal to stand was the correct one from match officials.

“I think because I was facing the goal Marcus probably saw I was in a better position, I didn’t know if any of us were offside or not but it doesn’t have any influence because no one (was) close to him so it doesn’t have an influence on the team to defend,” the Portuguese international said.

“The only one close was one close to me, so it is what it is – a goal – and in the end we are really happy,” the midfielder explained.

Ten Hag Lauds Rashford Performance

Post-match, manager Erik ten Hag praised the “spirit” of his side to comeback in such an important game. The Dutch boss also lauded Marcus Rashford, who recovered from a knock early in the tie to score the winning goal late on.

“He knows that in top football you have to suffer, sacrifice, and have painful moments,” Ten Hag said.

“Especially a player like he is, he’s unstoppable, opponents will go tough against him to stop him. But you have to deal with it, and I think he’s capable of it,” the manager explained.

“He keeps investing, he keeps going, he keeps focusing for his chances and in the end he got a reward and the team got his reward,” he stated.

United Gathering Momentum with Title in Sights

The win leaves Manchester United trailing league leaders Arsenal by just six points with half the season yet to come. Erik ten Hag’s side are now comfortably in the European places too and will hope to continue their momentum versus Crystal Palace next week.

The victory for Man United really puts pressure on rivals City, who must now get back on track after two consecutive defeats –  a fact which the serial winning side cannot be used to after experiencing such success under the reign of Pep Guardiola in recent years.

Their midweek game against Tottenham Hotspur could prove vital in  recapturing their form if they are to defend their title.

New signing Wout Weghorst could make his first appearance for the side in that game, after fellow-striker Anthony Martial went off injured in today’s Manchester Derby.

 

 


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