FANS LOVE BR

Full house at Theatre of Dreams ri hero Fernandes as director Pogba

ONE of Manchester United fans’ biggest disappointments during lockdown was that a packed Old Trafford only got to see Bruno Fernandes play four times.

Yesterday was the fifth and boy did the Portugal star make up for it. Last season’s 28-goal top-scorer picked up where he left off, netting a hat-trick to serve notice on champions

Manchester City that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side mean business.

Fernandes was unstoppable, as the Red Devils tore Leeds apart at Old Trafford for the second time in eight months, after putting six past them in December. As brilliant as Fernandes was, this impressive win was not just about him. Paul Pogba was also superb, weighing in with four assists.

Mason Greenwood shone and his finish for the Reds’ second goal was sublime. Jadon Sancho made his debut off the bench with the game won, while Raphael Varane was paraded before kick-off after finally sealing his move from Real Madrid.

On this scintillating form, United will take some stopping, and their supporters left Old Trafford believing a first title since 2013 is on.

United badly struggled without their home crowd last season in the Premier League, but look in the mood to restore “fortress Old Trafford”. For Leeds, it was another humbling at the home of their fiercest rivals and Marcelo Bielsa must be concerned by how his side crumbled after Luke Ayling’s sensational equaliser.

Junior Firpo endured a baptism of fire on his debut, but too many Leeds players were off-key.

Energised by the raucous support in the stands, United exploded from the blocks and Illan Meslier twice denied Greenwood.

Despite having to absorb pressure, Leeds were a threat. David de Gea