Bruno Fernandes seen ‘absolutely fuming’ in off the ball incident in Man United win vs Crystal Palace
Bruno Fernandes couldn’t hide his frustration on the pitch in Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
Michael Carrick’s side made it six wins out of seven in the Premier League since the interim boss took the reins, and they are now up to third in the table after Aston Villa were beaten at Wolves.
A Fernandes penalty and a Benjamin Sesko header turned the game on its head for the Red Devils, after Maxence Lacroix had given the visitors an early lead at Old Trafford.
Lacroix was then sent off by referee Chris Kavanagh as part of the penalty, and United took full advantage of their extra player to complete their comeback in the final half an hour.
Fernandes was at the heart of everything for United during their latest victory, but he has been criticised for his actions across the 90 minutes.
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Fernandes has been a key figure for United once again this term, as his current tally of 20 Premier League goal involvements is far clear of anyone else in Carrick’s squad.
His influence on the team was clear to see yet again on Sunday, as he notched a goal and an assist to help complete the comeback against Crystal Palace.
The Portuguese captained the team in his attacking midfield role, but his passion and desire to win games of football can sometimes spill over into visible frustration while he is out on the pitch.
That was clear again on Sunday, when the skipper briefly flailed his arms behind the play after not receiving a pass from Lenny Yoro on the stroke of half-time.
It was a moment that was picked up by former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart during his analysis on Match of the Day, and he was quick to emphasise that he doesn’t like to see reactions of that nature during a game.
“Personally, I don’t like the hand throwing,” Hart said after watching footage of the incident.
“I don’t like those gestures because I think it brings the crowd into it. The more I watch the game, the more I realise it’s just his passion for the game and what he wants from his teammates.
“I don’t like the frustration but it’s just his personality. Just before half-time, he had an opportunity to receive it on the half-turn (and didn’t get the pass), and he was absolutely fuming.”
Michael Carrick holds the key to Fernandes’ future at Man United
Fernandes’ future at Old Trafford has been subject to plenty of speculation in recent months, as he prepares to enter the final year of his contract in the summer.
There is an option in place to potentially extend that deal by a further year, but interest from Saudi Arabia has prompted talk over whether he could be about to play his final games for the club.
Football Insider revealed recently that Fernandes’ future will hinge on United’s fortunes between now and the end of the season, with Champions League qualification likely to be enough to convince him to stay.
With that in mind, his future may effectively be in Carrick’s hands, with the interim needing his early success to continue in order to keep hold of his star player.
United have made an excellent start under the 44-year-old’s guidance in recent weeks, so much so that he is now being tipped to take the job on a full-time basis, and that may well be music to the ears of Fernandes if their goal is achieved at the end of the season.