There’s some baggage that comes with being the main man at Manchester United, something Bruno Fernandes has since grown accustomed to.
The Portuguese maverick has been the focal point of Man United’s attack since signing from Sporting Lisbon, and while his numbers have been nothing short of productive, criticism has still found its way to Fernandes.
One former Manchester United striker is having none of it, though, as he drew a line in the sand over the ‘cheap, lazy’ commentary aimed at the Red Devils star.
Louis Saha Takes Issue With Bruno Fernandes Criticism
Speaking to Boyle Sports, Saha raised a laundry list of issues with the criticism directed at Fernandes.
“The kind of criticism this guy has been under just amazes me,” Saha said. “It’s a very cheap way to comment on football sometimes, just by claiming people should do this or do that.
“Comparisons between Fernandes and Roy Keane are understandable because he is the focal point of this team. We also saw that with Cristiano Ronaldo. They get criticism because of it. It’s the lazy way to just comment on the focal point. Now we can see that the structure [at the club] is better, he is thriving.”
Saha underlined the fact that Fernandes’s contribution has been “enormous,” but his performances don’t simply boil down to sheer numbers. “It’s his running, his intensity, and his capacity to sometimes show rage in his own way.”
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Fernandes recently revealed that the club tried (albeit subtly) to push him out of Old Trafford and accept a big-money move to the Saudi Premier League. However, the interim Portugal captain turned down those overtures and decided to stay put.
“I stayed here because I think I still can win trophies here,” he explained to club legend Rio Ferdinand. “I wouldn’t have stayed here if the club hadn’t told me our aim is still to get the highest we can be, get back to winning trophies, get back to being the club we were before.
Manchester United certainly appear to be turning a corner. Since the start of October, the Red Devils have lost just one Premier League game. No side has lost fewer in that time frame, though on several of those instances, the team has settled for a draw. All United need to figure out now is how to turn those draws into close wins, and build on that platform.
