- Bruno Fernandes scored the 92nd-minute winner to beat Rangers on Thursday
- The skipper has previously admitted to riling team-mates with his histrionics
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why the Arsenal players will be laughing at Mikel Arteta behind his back
Ruben Amorim has defended Bruno Fernandes even though he admits the Manchester United captain’s histrionics on the pitch are ‘not a good thing to see’.
Fernandes’ antics rile opponents and rival fans, and he has previously admitted getting under the skin of his own teammates with his moaning and gesticulating.
But after seeing the Portuguese playmaker score an injury-time winner to give United victory over Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday night, Amorim insists he has to take the rough with the smooth and will help Fernandes ‘manage the situation’.
‘I think he’s a top player and then people talk a lot about his frustration, always with his arms in the air,’ said United’s head coach. ‘Sometimes it’s not a good thing to see, but you have to see the other side.
‘When you are under pressure, he’s always the guy that wants the ball, he’s always available, and that is so important – especially in the Premier League.
‘Then he can run, and he runs a lot. He fights a lot. You have two sides and I have to help him manage both situations. But we are lucky to have a player like Bruno Fernandes.
Ruben Amorim admitted Bruno Fernandes’ antics are ‘not a good thing to see’ in his captain
Fernandes is known for his histrionics on the field but also makes up for it in effort for his side
‘Sometimes he makes mistakes, like me last week. But he’s really important and he has passion. This is so important to be a football player.’
Amorim’s mistake was to label United possibly the worst team in the club’s history and damage a television during a dressing-room rant after they lost at home to Brighton on Sunday.
The 39-year-old believes the secret to lifting United out of the doldrums is team bonding – and the chance for the players to see him stress-free.
‘I think we need that to get that feeling of belonging,’ added Amorim, who admitted that he is in the dark over Marcus Rashford’s future at Old Trafford as the clock ticks down towards transfer deadline day.
‘For that, we also need time to train and to stay together because that is really important. We don’t have that. Pre-season, spending three weeks together, and then you want to create something new with the players.
‘I want them to know me in a different way, not always preparing the matches with stress. I think it’s the secret of teams.’
