Bruno Fernandes, a midfielder for Manchester United, has acknowledged that his actions on the field "go over the line," but he has refuted claims that he is "disrespectful."
The Portuguese playmaker has drawn criticism for his on-field behavior as well as how he has interacted with his own teammates. Gary Neville and Roy Keane, two icons of Manchester United, are among those who have previously publicly criticized his behavior.
He expressed his annoyance at numerous times during the Red Devils' 7-0 loss to Liverpool, which United legend Neville called a "disgrace." Meanwhile, Fernandes and his conduct on the field have frequently come under fire from Keane.
The Portuguese has now retaliated by acknowledging that his actions occasionally go too far, but he has refrained from calling himself impolite. He further asserted that his acts were merely intended to serve as encouragement for his teammates.
He said in a Sky Sports interview: “I think obviously sometimes I go over the line, I know that. But as I said, it can happen with the game and it’s difficult to control the emotions."
“I never try to be disrespectful with anyone obviously. As I said, we are all competitive, we all want to win and I just think that the way I play, the way I feel the game, the passion I have for the game is the way I feel better and I feel that I can give the most to my team and to my club. That’s why I play in that way and also I’ve been like that since I was seven years old."
“I don’t want to lose any game. I'm really competitive, I always try to push and give the best of myself and also push the others to give the best of themselves because if I ask someone or if I’m on the pitch and see someone that I’m speaking to them and try and say something, it’s because I believe that they can do better than what they’re doing.”
Bruno Fernandes also claimed that criticism from pundits is only intended to create headlines. He added: “I kind of understand what’s going on behind that but I can’t control that. We all know the pundits have to say something."
“They have to give their work as most bad things they say, the more work they get sometimes. We just have to live with that but for me, it’s about my teammates being okay and happy with that. Whenever they are not, I like them to tell me and so I calm myself down.”
"Most of the things that were said after that game were complete lies. Because I waved my arms, they [assumed] that I said something that I didn’t say. The pundits always want to say something to get attention and credit from the people outside. Sometimes they say something to say."
In all but one of his team's 29 league games this season, Fernandes has been a regular starter for Erik ten Hag's team. He was suspended for the team's loss to Aston Villa in November.
Ten Hag and colleague Marcus Rashford fiercely backed the midfielder after the Liverpool loss, despite some of his actions being repeatedly questioned by commentators. Fernandes thinks some of his antics are misconstrued.
"If I see someone on the pitch and I’m trying to say something to them, it’s because I believe they can do better. Sometimes I can even be giving credit to them but in the television you can’t see that."
"You see the waving of the arms, but that doesn’t mean that you’re moaning at someone. It’s sometimes the way you can express yourself on the pitch. With 75,000 at Old Trafford, it’s difficult to feel or listen to other people so you have to make gestures with your hands."
Post a Comment