Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saluted the immediate lift Bruno Fernandes has given Manchester United, likening the Portugal international to a Paul Scholes and Juan Sebastian Veron hybrid.
The 25-year-old produced another game-changing performance in a 3-0 victory over Watford at Old Trafford on Sunday, with a goal and an assist to complement his role as the club’s creative force.
Fernandes converted a penalty – complete with a confident skip before striking it – to open his United account and Solskjaer explained his seamless on-pitch transition since joining from Sporting CP in January in a £68 million package deal has not been a surprise.
Download the new Independent Premium app
Sharing the full story, not just the headlines
“In today’s market, I think we got a good deal,” the United manager said. “He has come in and done really well and given everyone a boost. It means more than just getting a player in, he has lifted the supporters. The fans are used to players with that personality, mentality and quality.
“He has come in from day one and felt like a presence in the group from the first minute, demanding the ball in training. Some players take some time in warming up, but he felt confident right away. It is a bit of a mix between Scholes and Veron, with the temperament of Veron and a lot of the quality of Scholesy.
“He is going to be a very important part of what we do. We have needed that. He knows is coming here to play. He risks the ball like Veron did and I used to enjoy playing with Seba because you make runs and he looks for you.”
Ratings: Man United vs Watford
1/22 David de Gea – 7
2/22 Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 6
3/22 Victor Lindelof – 6
4/22 Harry Maguire – 6
5/22 Luke Shaw – 8
6/22 Fred – 7
7/22 Nemanja Matic – 6
8/22 Bruno Fernandes – 9
9/22 Mason Greenwood – 8
10/22 Daniel James – 8
11/22 Anthony Martial – 8
12/22 Ben Foster – 4
13/22 Craig Dawson – 6
14/22 Christian Kabasele – 7
15/22 Craig Cathcart – 6
16/22 Adam Masina – 6
17/22 Etienne Capoue – 6
18/22 Will Hughes – 7
19/22 Abdolaye Doucoure – 7
20/22 Gerard Deulofeu – 6
21/22 Roberto Pereyra – 5
22/22 Troy Deeney – 6
1/22 David de Gea – 7
2/22 Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 6
3/22 Victor Lindelof – 6
4/22 Harry Maguire – 6
5/22 Luke Shaw – 8
6/22 Fred – 7
7/22 Nemanja Matic – 6
8/22 Bruno Fernandes – 9
9/22 Mason Greenwood – 8
10/22 Daniel James – 8
11/22 Anthony Martial – 8
12/22 Ben Foster – 4
13/22 Craig Dawson – 6
14/22 Christian Kabasele – 7
15/22 Craig Cathcart – 6
16/22 Adam Masina – 6
17/22 Etienne Capoue – 6
18/22 Will Hughes – 7
19/22 Abdolaye Doucoure – 7
20/22 Gerard Deulofeu – 6
21/22 Roberto Pereyra – 5
22/22 Troy Deeney – 6
Solskjaer revealed there was no apprehension from the technical team when Fernandes stepped up to take the spot-kick that gave United the lead instead of Antony Martial. The playmaker, who has scored each of the last 13 penalties he has taken in top-flight football, had been cooly dispatching them in training.
“He has been known for his set plays,” Solskjaer said. “He has practised quite a few penalties and I wasn’t in doubt what he would score. He is a big piece of what we’re building and an important one as we get to the business end of the field.
“We have spent with Harry [Maguire] and Aaron [Wan-Bissaka] and now we have got the No 10 nailed down. He is a box-to-box midfielder. He can do everything – in some games he will play in a two, some in an attacking midfield, some as a 10.”
Source: Read Full Article