Bruno Fernandes responds to criticism over big-game performances & hits out at players-turned-pundits

Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes has this weekend provided his take on the recent criticism of his performances in ‘big games’.

Fernandes dazzling

Gifted midfielder Fernandes of course made the move to Old Trafford on transfer deadline in January of last year.

And whilst, at the time, there was understandable excitement surrounding his arrival, few could have predicted just how significant an impact the Portuguese would go on to have on the fortunes of his new side.

Fernandes has played an absolutely central role for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United since his arrival, having added a new dimension of guile and creativity to the club’s midfield.

All told, across 22 appearances in his first half-season in Manchester, the former Sporting CP man directly contributed to 20 goals.

The current campaign, to this point, meanwhile, has seen Fernandes’ production continue at a frankly staggering rate, with the 26-year-old having, at times, almost single-handedly carried a hit-and-miss Red Devils outfit through moments of individual brilliance.

‘I don’t need to see the stats’

Amid his stellar stint in Manchester to date, however, there has been one persistent criticism aimed at United’s midfield star.

This comes in the form of question marks surrounding his performances against the Premier League’s other ‘top’ clubs.

Such qualms came back to the fore in a major way last weekend, when, on the back of a disappointing display versus Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, it was revealed that Fernandes has managed just a solitary goal contribution across 7 appearance versus the so called ‘top-6’ to this point in the season.

Bruno Fernandes against the ‘Big Six’ in the Premier League this season:

7 games
1 goal
0 assists pic.twitter.com/8yhL24qaOP

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 28, 2021

In turn, with a derby showdown with Manchester City to come on Sunday, it came as little surprise when the Portuguese was today drawn on his big-game production (or lack thereof) during a pre-match interview on Sky Sports.

Fernandes, though, was in defiant mood, assuring that he is fully aware that his most recent showings have not been up to scratch, a fact which the former Sporting man does not require stats to remind him of:

‘The teams who are in the top-6 in the table, I score against some of them. I scored this season against Tottenham, but people say penalties doesn’t count.’

‘I know people is waiting, expecting Bruno to score every game, assist every game because when I arrived I was playing really well, and I want to do that.’

‘I don’t look for the ‘big-6′ or the rest of the league. I look for every game in the same way. If they look at the stats in the last two games against the big teams, my accuracy on passing was good, just against Chelsea (last weekend) it was not really good.’

‘I agree in the last two games, I didn’t play really well, and I know that. I don’t need to see the stats to see if I play well or not.’

The Red Devils star then turned his attentions to ex-players who have perhaps been overly critical of both he and his teammates of late, explaining:

‘Sometimes I’m a little bit sad about people who knows about football saying so many things I don’t agree (with), talking about the moment when, in the past, some of them was players and they know football is not the moment, it’s not the past, and it’s not the future. It’s about all of these (combined).’

‘So, it’s sad to see some stuff people (are) saying about the team, about me, but honestly, if people want to complain about ”we don’t score in the big games, we always draw”, I’d prefer if they say it’s Bruno not playing well. I can have that pressure on my back.’

Check out the interview in full below:

🗣 “I don’t need to see stats to see if I play well or not.”

Bruno Fernandes hits back at critics for saying he doesn’t perform against the top 6 pic.twitter.com/SpDow5CoOH

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 6, 2021

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