Bruno Fernandes placed the spotlight on two Manchester United stars after the Red Devils’ crucial 2-1 Premier League win against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The Red Devils returned to winning ways in the Premier League on the weekend, following on from Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad.
United were dominant against Chelsea in the first half and the Red Devils broke the deadlock through club captain Bruno Fernandes in the 14th minute at Old Trafford.
Casemiro put United 2-0 up going into half-time on Saturday evening, but the Premier League clash was not without its drama in the first half at Old Trafford.
Chelsea were reduced to 10 men against United in the first five minutes after Robert Sanchez was sent off, while Casemiro was dismissed in the first half of injury time.
Bruno Fernandes reveals key detail about Man Utd duo Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo vs Chelsea
Benjamin Sesko led the frontline for Manchester United on Saturday and Bryan Mbeumo supported his fellow summer signing in one of the two No 10 roles.
Bryan Mbeumo was played through early in the first half at Old Trafford after Benjamin Sesko flicked the ball on to the 26-year-old former Brentford star.
However, the Cameroon international was brought down in a one-on-one challenge from Robert Sanchez, who received a straight red card for his desperate tackle.
Bruno Fernandes has hinted at the ‘new United DNA’ around “mentality” and felt that both Mbeumo and Sesko showed that in the build-up to Sanchez’s red card.
“You want to perform, but at the end of the day, what matters is points,” he told BBC Sport.
“We haven’t been getting the points we wanted. At the end of the game, we were very strong in defending our box and putting them in positions of crossing.
“We got the [Chelsea’s] red card because our mentality was starting the game so strong. The players have to run behind whenever Ben goes for the ball and that’s what Bryan did.”
Bruno Fernandes reacts to Casemiro’s red card against Chelsea in the 2-1 Premier League win at Old Trafford
Benjamin Sesko’s performance against Chelsea was cut short on Saturday after Casemiro was sent off, with Ruben Amorim forced to make a tactical change.
United manager Ruben Amorim took the 22-year-old striker off at the start of the second half and brought Manuel Ugarte on to partner alongside Fernandes.
Speaking on Casemiro’s red card, Fernandes said: “It didn’t change anything. We wanted to close the middle.
“Without [Liam] Delap, who makes the runs for the team, Joao Pedro wants to link up. We gave them the chance to go down the side and then close them with our wing-backs.
“Our centre-backs were very good to defend the box.”
United have climbed to 10th place in the Premier League table after their hard-fought 2-1 win over Chelsea and the pressure has been slightly eased on Amorim.
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