Bruno Fernandes has joked that Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s stunning goal against Newcastle was simply a mishit cross – but insists his team-mate has the ‘qualities’ to improve in an attacking sense and be a force down the right flank for Manchester United.
The Red Devils were desperate for a positive response after being thumped 6-1 at home to Tottenham in their previous Premier League match but their afternoon got off to a nightmare start as Emil Krafth’s strike deflected in off Luke Shaw in only the second minute at St James’ Park.
But United captain Harry Maguire silenced a few critics with a powerful header in the 23rd minute before a flurry of late goals from Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Wan-Bissaka sealed all three points for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men.
Though Wan-Bissaka has established himself as one of the top defensive full-backs in the division since his emergence at Crystal Palace, his driven finish took even his team-mates by surprise.
‘[We were so happy] because we didn’t know he can shoot!’ Fernandes told MUTV shortly after the final whistle.
‘So it’s difficult for us believing he can score because we never see him shooting.
‘We were talking about it now in the dressing room and asking him because we all were thinking he wanted to cross and he makes a bad ball and scores.
‘But I’m happy for him, he deserved the goal and we always ask this from him. Be more positive, be more in the box, try and improve because he has such good qualities.
‘Everyone knows about him being a defensive player and everything but he needs to show that he’s more than a defensive player and I think he has the qualities to show that.’
Wan-Bissaka laughed off Fernandes’ comments and said the goal gave him the ‘confidence’ to take more shots in the future.
‘After that, the confidence is there to push on more and eventually shoot next time because, as you can see, it went in and that’s more to take on,’ he said.
Asked about Fernandes joking about it being a mishit cross, Wan-Bissaka laughed and replied: ‘Nah, the others were!
‘But I had to make sure this one was a shot.’
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