Bruno Fernandes remains a divisive figure among former Manchester United players but Phil Bardsley has nothing but admiration for the captain’s work in difficult circumstances
Phil Bardsley has become the latest former Manchester United player to claim that captain Bruno Fernandes is right to feel frustrated by the current state of affairs at Old Trafford.
Fernandes has received some criticism from pundits including United legend Roy Keane but Bardsley, a former full back who spent 15 years on the books at United, has claimed that the Portugal star is “sacrificing his own career” to try and steer the club back to the top.
Current coach Ruben Amorim has hailed his compatriot for recent performances while defensive great Gary Pallister recently suggested Fernandes is growing irritated by what is happening around him.
And Bardsley agrees with the latter, telling Boyle Sports: “Roy Keane is right in the sense that Bruno Fernandes can do more, but in any other team he would be winning trophies and he’s probably sacrificing his own career to try and help Manchester United get back to where they want to be.
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“He is the standout performer week in and week out, you only have to look at his goals and assists. I’d be scared to see where United would be without him.
“He doesn’t back out of challenges and his work rate is unmatched, but the standards that Roy set as a captain means he won’t like how Bruno sometimes looks frustrated and throws his arms in the air.
“But that’s obviously because he wants to win trophies with United, that is his personality and he will be instrumental in United trying to get back up the table.”
Fernandes has 16 goals and nine assists for United this season despite the team toiling in the lower half of the Premier League. Amorim’s side sit 13th, 11 points off a Champions League spot, following a tumultuous campaign in which they have won 10 and lost a dozen of 29 games so far.
But United could still end the season with silverware – they have a Europa League quarter-final against Lyon to come next month.
Pallister said of Fernandes: “I think he must feel frustrated sometimes. If he was playing in a better team, we’d really be talking his ability up because he’s that good of a talent.
“He’s fighting hard to still be the best that he can be in a team that’s really struggling, so he deserves all the plaudits that he gets.”
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