RUBEN AMORIM says Bruno Fernandes is a shining light for Manchester United — and the club’s former stars in the media need to give him a break.
Ex-skipper Roy Keane is among the critics of the current captain, saying he is ‘not a fighter’ despite his obvious talent.
Ruben Amorim has endured a topsy-turvy spell at Manchester United[/caption]
Club legend Roy Keane has been critical of the team and skipper Bruno Fernandes over the last few months[/caption]
United gaffer Ruben Amorim has leapt to the defence of his countryman[/caption]
But Fernandes, 30, has been the driving force behind a mini-revival for the Red Devils and scored a hat-trick against Real Sociedad this week.
Boss Amorim jumped to the defence of his fellow Portuguese, saying: “When you play for this team you have to be prepared for the critics.
“I understand former players had a lot of success here and standards for them were so high.
“They see things in black and white. Life is sometimes not black and white — there are other colours and you have to understand that context.
“He is always there, trying his best. I am really proud to coach a player like him.”
Fernandes has been involved in 11 of United’s last 13 goals.
Amorim added: “He is so important for this team and you can see from the numbers.”
Meanwhile, Fernandes revealed he turned down the chance to leave United last summer.
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Clubs in Saudi Arabia and Bayern Munich were linked with moves.
Fernandes said: “I sat with the club because I had an offer to leave.
“They said what they wanted from me. I just asked if they still see me as part of the future or not. I spoke at the time with Erik ten Hag also.
“He was very clear with me, the club was very clear, that they thought I’d be a big part of this rebuild that they want to do in a different way.
“But now we are in a different moment with a new manager that thinks in a different way, that has a different way of playing.
“I’m still very happy at the club. I’m always being happy at the club. To represent the club is a big honour for me.”
Fernandes said it was ‘not nice’ to hear part-owner Jim Ratcliffe’s moans this week that some players were ‘overpaid and not good enough’.
He said: “I don’t think any player likes to hear you’re not good enough, overpaid or whatever.
“Everyone has their own contract. The club agrees to do the contracts at the time you come here or at the time you do a new contract.”
Bruno Fernandes insists he’s still happy to be a Manchester United player[/caption]
