BRUNO THE LEADER OF THE PACK

IN the final moments of extratime, Bruno Fernandes won the ball and put it out of play to end Liverpool’s hopes of getting an equaliser that would force pens.

Fernandes turned towards the Manchester United fans in the Sir Alex Ferguson stand, pumped both fists, and roared, imploring them for one last push to haul their team over the line.

In one of the all-time epic FA Cup ties, the much-maligned Fernandes produced a captain’s performance to lead United to a dramatic and ultimately deserved win over their arch rivals.

Hobbling for most of extra-time and forced to play as a makeshift centre-back to compensate for his side’s depleted personnel, Fernandes (above, with manager Erik ten Hag) led by example as United staged a remarkable FA Cup quarter-final comeback.

When United lost 7-0 at Anfield last season, there was talk that Fernandes should never pull on the captain’s armband again because of his histrionics and complaints. Here, though, Fernandes dug deep when his team needed him, inspiring those around him and holding the team together with his relentless workrate from a deeper role in the chaos of extra-time.

There is much to admire about Fernandes, not least his willingness to play through the pain barrier for United.

He rarely misses a game, even when carrying an injury, which is to be admired.

Yet he is still guilty of letting his emotions get the better of him, never more so than for Liverpool’s second goal, right on half-time, when he felt he was fouled by Joe Gomez in the build-up.

When Liverpool went on to score through Mo Salah’s closerange finish, Fernandes went into overdrive, pursuing referee John Brooks to remonstrate, his petulant show of dissent earning him a yellow card.

But it is a measure of how much Fernandes has grown as a leader that he played out the game by sacrificing his attacking instincts to do what was required to get his team over the line – the mark of a true leader.