Fernandes steals show as United tame City again
It has been a while since Old Trafford reverberated like this at the final whistle and a while since Manchester United have had a player to pin their hopes on like Bruno Fernandes.
Maybe Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s hyperbole about the Portugal international being a mix of Paul Scholes and Juan Sebastian Veron is not so over the top after all because it is difficult to recall someone having had as much of a mood-changing impact as Fernandes at such a big club.
Undoubtedly that is also an indication of how far United have fallen but the wonderful piece of invention that Fernandes came up with to create the opening goal for Anthony Martial will go into the showreel of highlights of Manchester derbies. Of all time.
It also gave United the lifeline to hang on to as they surrendered up to 75 per cent possession against Manchester City and defended heroically before scoring an equally opportunistic second goal through substitute Scott Mctominay in injury time. Aaron Wan-bissaka, in particular, was outstanding as Solskjaer gained a third win – and a Premier League double – over Pep Guardiola this season.
It gives United hope of continuing the pursuit of Chelsea and finishing in the top four while a 10th game without defeat in all competitions and eight clean sheets points to a team, finally, heading in the right direction. For City, defeat means that Liverpool take another significant step towards their first title in 30 years.
Fernandes departed to a standing ovation and resounding chants of “Bruno, Bruno”. In the absence of Paul Pogba, the midfield player has proved to be what Solskjaer has called a “box-opener” and, maybe, he has also shown that it may not be so bad for United should the French World Cup winner move to pastures new this summer.
United feel like a team who are more united than for some time and the players understandably milked the gleeful reaction of their supporters before they disappeared down the tunnel in the driving rain. It seems like they are galvanised at last. It feels a long time since the dispiriting defeat at home by Burnley in December.
“The desire, attitude, commitment, connection between fans and players pleased me most,” Solskjaer said – and he was right.
Whether Solskjaer is the man to try to take them back to the top probably remains to be seen and he will have to develop more positive tactics than this.
Good signings help and while the debate as to whether United messed up in not signing Fernandes last summer cannot be dismissed, there is no doubting the difference the 25-year-old makes now. He wants the ball. He demands the ball. And he produces in possession. “He is humble enough, he works hard and he has the X-factor,” Solskjaer said.
Fernandes has contributed two goals and three assists since making his league debut on Feb 1, more than any other Premier League player in that time. The quick piece of skill to release Martial may have been his best contribution so far – a real “box-opener” moment.
City were angry at conceding a free-kick, arguing Ilkay Gundogan had not fouled Fernandes, and maybe that distracted them as Sergio
United feel like they are galvanised at last and the players milked the fans’ gleeful reaction
Aguero failed to react when the midfielder chipped the ball to meet Martial’s run with the forward striking a volley that squirmed under Ederson and over the goal-line.
The mistake was the beginning of a poor game for the goalkeeper, who almost allowed a back-pass into his own net. Nicolas Otamendi also struggled, being fortunate not to concede a penalty as he caught Fred with, instead, the United midfielder cautioned.
Undoubtedly City missed Kevin De Bruyne, who was out with a shoulder injury, but they coped
without him last season. They could not do so on this occasion as they hogged the ball but did not hurt United, whose five-man defence had spent the warm-up being drilled by coach Kieran Mckenna.
United’s approach is limited and they need to evolve to challenge City and Liverpool. However, Fernandes and co are making a difference while, on this form, when he looks fired up, Martial is crucial, especially in the absence of Marcus Rashford.
Finally City raised the tempo – with Aguero substituted and the knee he hurt in the Carabao Cup final bandaged – and it felt like a long time for United to try to hold out.
David De Gea tipped over a powerful shot from Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling should have scored when he met a low Riyad Mahrez cross with only the goalkeeper to beat. The ball skimmed off his boot.
The pressure grew but so did United’s defensive resolution as City became increasingly desperate. That showed as Ederson overhit a pass to substitute Benjamin Mendy, the ball running to Mctominay, who struck a first-time shot from 35 yards that flew into the unguarded net. The stadium erupted and Solskjaer was asked if he had heard such a noise at Old Trafford, even in his playing days. “We were probably more used to it back then,” he said. He will hope those times are returning.