Scoring penalties like me isn’t that easy, says Bruno
BRUNO Fernandes has hit back at his penalty critics.
Eight of the United midfielder’s 12 goals for the Reds have come from the spot since signing in January.
Fernandes has a distinctive penalty style which includes a jump just before he strikes the ball.
Yet the 26-year-old argued his record from the spot should be applauded.
“We can’t talk a lot about penalties because everybody will say ‘Bruno only scores with penalties’,” said Fernandes.
“If the others score them, it’s no problem! They just score a penalty.
“But penalties are part of the game. You need to score. You have the chance, but you need to score.
“I know everyone is talking about them like it’s easy, but you can lose a final with a penalty.
“Manchester United won the Champions League in Moscow with penalties in 2008.
“For most people, it’s easy when you’re in front of the TV.
“It’s easy - ‘just look at the goalkeeper jump to his left so why don’t you shoot to the right?’
“I can shoot to the right but, in my mind, it was the left and the goalkeeper saved it. It can happen!
“But the most important thing, for me, is to keep scoring.”
And Fernandes says he fully trusts in the penalty taking abilities of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba should he not take a spot-kick himself.
The trio all missed a penalty for United at some point last season before the Portuguese joined, but he has no fears should any of them replace him from 12-yards out.
“It doesn’t matter if I take penalties,” he said. “We have a lot of qualities in the team.
“Rashy was the guy who took the penalties so I tell him: ‘When you feel confident, if you want to take the penalty, for me, it is not a problem.’
“I feel confident with penalties and I want to take them but, if someone comes to me to ask to take a penalty, I will not fight every time, just to take a penalty. In that moment, I can be tired or not prepared to take a penalty and I can say easily: ‘You take it’.
“I trust in my team-mates - Rashy, Anthony [Martial] and also Paul [Pogba], they have a lot of qualities and can take it. We have really good penalty-takers. The most important thing is scoring for Manchester United. It doesn’t matter if it is Bruno or someone else.”