Bruno Fernandes: Flop Nicolas Pepe wasn't called a moaner like I was
Karan Tejwani
- 20 Sept 2022 09:30 BST
- 3 min read
Bruno Fernandes has spoken about his time at Manchester United and the criticism aimed at him over his performances in recent times.
Fernandes joined Manchester United in January 2020 and had an immediate impact under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, contributing with goals and assists aplenty.
However, things got quite difficult for him and Manchester United in the last year as the club struggled for form, with Solskjaer getting the sack and being replaced by Ralf Rangnick on an interim basis before Erik ten Hag joined.
Fernandes has now responded to the criticism he has faced for his performances, comparing it to that of an Arsenal signing who joined just before him but struggled to make an impact as well.
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Fernandes speaks on criticism
The Portuguese midfielder compared his signing to that of Arsenal’s move for Nicolas Pepe, who moved to the Gunners for a club-record fee in the summer before him.
Pepe came in on the back of a fine season with Lille, but hardly made an impact at Arsenal under both Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta, before being loaned back to France with Nice this past summer.
Fernandes has said the same standards weren’t held to Pepe as they were to him, as his good start to life at Old Trafford raised the bar too high.
Bruno Fernandes on Ole Gunnar Solskjær: "He still sends me some messages and says congratulations for certain things. He’s someone who I want to remain in touch with. I said that to him before he left the club." [@TheAthleticUK] pic.twitter.com/AtpwdOH2aw
— utdreport (@utdreport) September 20, 2022
"He [Nicolas Pépé] had some bad games and everyone was saying, ‘He still has to adapt’ [to the Premier League], but when Bruno was having a bad game, it was just because he was moaning or not focused on the game," Fernandes told The Athletic.
Fernandes then spoke about Erik ten Hag, and the impact the Dutch boss has had since joining Manchester United over the summer period, despite a tough start in the Premier League
"First of all, he [Ten Hag] has an idea. He has a style. You have to follow his rules. He is strict on that. And I like that. He has brought discipline, which is something I think we missed in the past. Everyone must be on the same page."
