“Some people will say…”: Fernandes gives final verdict on super strike vs Spurs

Old Trafford, Sunday – Bruno Fernandes settled the argument in the 81st minute and then settled the debate afterwards, insisting his instinctive, stabbed finish that sealed Manchester United’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur was every bit as deliberate as it looked chaotic.

The captain’s goal, steered in from close range after Diogo Dalot’s low delivery skidded across the six-yard box, ended more than an hour of anxiety for the hosts and propelled United to a fourth consecutive win for the first time in two years.

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Fernandes was quick to counter any suggestion of fluke.

“I think that if you go with your feet the probability of the ball going very high is big because it is bouncing,” he explained. “Some people will say I didn’t mean it but I did because I knew the ball would go straight into the floor so I had to just go straight across Vicario.”

The strike was the Portuguese’s 104th for the club since arriving from Sporting CP in 2020, taking his overall goal contribution tally to 200 when combined with 96 assists.

United had led since the 25th minute when Bryan Mbeumo converted a well-crafted corner, yet familiar nerves resurfaced as Spurs, reduced to ten men, entrenched themselves in a stubborn low block. Fernandes admitted the second goal felt essential.

“We needed to close the game. We knew we were very in control of the game but at any moment it can change,” he said. “They had very good players up front that could make a big difference for them. To close the game then, we still could have got one or two goals but it is not easy against a low block, they were very compact and aggressive and defended very well even with 10 men.”

The clean sheet was only United’s third in the league this campaign and continued the uplift generated since Michael Carrick stepped in as interim head coach. Fernandes, however, warned against complacency.

“When we win games the confidence goes higher and higher. It is very important for us to maintain the focus and not overdo it now,” he stressed. “This is very good and very nice but we need to keep going. If you don’t win the next one and the next one you will get back into the same place where you don’t feel comfortable, you lose confidence and struggle to believe in everything you have been doing until now.”

Attention now turns to Tuesday’s trip to West Ham, another chance to extend the streak. Fernandes left no doubt about the target.

“We have been doing very well until now to do everything that Michael and the staff have been asking of us and we have been very brave taking responsibility in some moments in the game to go and play and do whatever you need to do to win the game,” he said. “The main focus is the next game, it’s four wins in a row, this one is nice, but we need to make it five now.”