BRUCE HAILS A NEW KING
Fernandes evokes golden era of Cantona – now he needs to win silverware
MAN UTD V NEWCASTLE 7PM TOMORROW, BT SPORT
WATCHING Bruno Fernandes stamp his class on another outstanding Manchester United performance on Thursday night brought memories flooding back for Old Trafford legend Steve Bruce.
It also sent a shiver down the spine of the Newcastle manager whose struggling side face United tomorrow night, with Fernandes evoking images of Eric Cantona in his pomp.
Bruce freely admits the mercurial Frenchman, below, was the greatest footballer he ever played alongside – and theirs was a mutual appreciation society.
When the Geordie was left out of the side which clinched the double with a 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Liverpool in 1996, captain and matchwinner Cantona wanted him to lift the trophy, such was the esteem in which he held the veteran centre-half.
So the fact Bruce mentions Fernandes in the same breath as such a titanic figure in Old Trafford history speaks volumes – but the Toon boss adds that for the Portuguese midfielder to leave as big an imprint on the club, he needs to stack up the silverware in the way his predecessor did.
While Fernandes’ cupboard remains bare, Cantona amassed quite a collection in five years in the north west, winning the Premier League four times with United and FA Cup twice.
“Certainly in terms of talent, comparisons are apt,” said Bruce. “Where you have to judge players is over a period of time and what they have won and, for us, Eric was the catalyst to go out and win things.
“But the way Bruno has played in the past 12 months, it feels a bit like Eric because it is his stage.
“Eric adorned
Old Trafford and adored everything about playing for the biggest and some would say best club in the world.”
Just like it did for Cantona, Old Trafford is proving a natural fit for Fernandes, signed for £67.5million from Sporting Lisbon in January last year.
“Ever since he walked through the door, he has that swagger and poise about him which tells you it is his stage,” added Bruce.
“He was ready for it and in the past 12 months he has been terrific in everything he has done. The impact he has made has been immense. To even suggest he is on the same hymn sheet as Cantona is a wonderful compliment to him.
“Now he has to go out there and win things like Eric did – on the big occasions, in Cup finals – and if he does that then of course you’ll compare the two of them.”
Fernandes inspired United with another classy display on Thursday, scoring twice as they beat Real Sociedad 4-0 in the first leg of their Europa League tie.
Bruce said of his former team: “They have breathtaking pace on the counter and the addition of Fernandes has been the key to it all.
“On their day, they can be as good as any side you are going to face.”