Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has laughed off criticism from Jose Mourinho after the Tottenham boss took a dig at the amount of penalties the Portugal international scores.
Fernandes, 25, transformed Manchester United’s season following his £47m arrival from Sporting Lisbon last January.
United were rank outsiders for a place in the top four but they managed to finish third, thanks in no small part to the performances of Fernandes.
The playmaker has bagged 12 goals since joining the club, eight of which have come from the penalty spot.
Mourinho couldn’t resist a dig at Fernandes towards the end of the season, describing him as ‘one of the best’ penalty takers in the world because he gets so many opportunities from 12 yards.
‘Bruno came in, was fit, played very well, improved the United team and also proved to be a great penalty taker, one of the best in the world, because he had about 20 to score,’ said Mourinho.
But Fernandes has responded to his compatriot by insisting he sees the positive side of Mourinho’s dig.
‘I honestly did not feel stung, I felt that I am a good penalty taker and nothing more,’ Fernandes told A Bola.
‘I understand, but what I take from his words, because I’m a very positive person, is that he said I hit penalties well.
‘It is a reality, not least since I arrived at Manchester United, I have not missed one. And I hope I don’t fail.”
‘I’ve only missed two penalties, one for Udinese against Napoli and then in the Portuguese Cup, with Loures.’
Fernandes will face added competition in midfield next term after the arrival of Donny van de Beek from Ajax.
But the Portuguese will likely retain his spot as the side’s talisman and he sas his next goal is to win a trophy with the club.
‘People still have a bit of that thing of saying: if you are a Sporting player I cannot do well, I cannot say that you will do well.
‘It was a good impact, because we managed to reach the Champions League and now our goals have to be different, because we have not won any trophy and a club like Manchester United, which in the last few years, didn’t win a trophy’
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