Bruno’s like a mix between Scholes and Veron, says thrilled Solskjaer
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer heaped praise on Bruno Fernandes after Manchester United’s big-money January signing put in yet another star display.
Summer interest in the 25-year-old turned into an active pursuit last month, with protracted negotiations with Sporting Lisbon finally bearing fruit at the end of the transfer window.
The Portugal international has been man of the match in all three United starts to date, having followed up fine displays against Wolves and Chelsea with a goal and an assist as Watford were beaten 3-0 yesterday.
“In today’s market I think we got a good deal,” Solskjaer said of Fernandes. “Obviously he’s come in and done really well.
“It means more than just getting a player in. You can see the supporters, they’re used to players with that personality, mentality and quality so he’s been a big plus.
“He’s come in from day one, the first minute, and felt like a presence in the group. First training session, demanding the ball. Some players take some time in warming up but he felt confident straight away.
“He’s a bit of a mix between (Paul) Scholes and (Juan Sebastian) Veron, to be fair.
“He’s got the temperament maybe of Veron and a lot of the quality of him and Scholesy.”
Solskjaer says Fernandes is a “big piece” in the team that United are looking to build, while Anthony Martial has shown this week that he too can be a key component.
Monday’s header at Chelsea was followed by a fine goal at Club Brugge in the Europa League and a clever clipped finish past Ben Foster yesterday.
“I am delighted with the week Anthony’s had,” Solskjaer said.
“He has got his critics and I am one of his biggest probably because I keep demanding different stuff from him.
“This today is more than the Anthony we know about. The skill because that is just mind-blowing, sometimes the skill that he shows. But I want more from him and I’ll keep at him.”
FOR the first time since September, Manchester United find themselves in the Champions League places.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s group stages have been significantly boosted over the past week or so — by Manchester City’s two-year ban, more than anything else — but back-to-back league victories mean United now occupy that newly-coveted fifth-place spot.
A Bruno Fernandes penalty and spectacular finishes by Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood proved enough for Solskjaer’s side to beat relegation-threatened Watford comfortably. This was a satisfying win and Fernandes’ performance will have especially pleased the Norwegian.
His influential, all-action display felt like the £45m signing truly announcing himself to Old Trafford.
Watford will be disappointed. Nigel Pearson’s visitors had chances, mainly in the first half through Abdoulaye Doucoure, and Troy Deeney saw a potential equaliser correctly chalked off.
At least they remain just one point off safety, even after this defeat. Yet having enjoyed a ‘new manager bounce’ under Pearson, they are now winless in five games and losing momentum in their bid to avoid the drop.
That must be taken into account when assessing United’s performance. But Solskjaer has faced plenty of criticism for failing to beat opponents in the lower reaches of the league table this season, so it is only right that he and his players are praised when they take all three points in an effective manner.
That being said, the opening exchanges were low on quality and United’s defence was particularly suspect. Harry Maguire and Nemanja Matic at one stage ran into each other, allowing Deeney to waltz through oneon-one with David de Gea. A lastditch recovery tackle by Luke Shaw — excellent at left-back all afternoon, after also impressing in Brugge on Thursday night — spared their blushes.
Fernandes cut a frustrated figure for much of the first half and eventually decided to take matters into his own hands. Several surging runs through midfield posed questions of Watford’s defence. The best of them resulted in Fernandes bursting clear into the 18-yard box, tripping over goalkeeper Ben Foster’s outstretched hand and intelligently winning a penalty.
Around a quarter of Fernandes’ goals in Portugal were penalties and, given United’s inconsistency from the spot this season and the absence of firstchoice taker Marcus Rashford, it was no surprise to see him step up. He scored United’s leaguehigh 14th penalty of the season, sending Foster the wrong way with a skip before striking the ball. It was their first league goal at Old Trafford in 235 minutes.
Watford did not deserve to be behind and believed they had restored parity at the start of the second half when a corner deflected off Craig Dawson,