MUTV pundit praises star who was ‘best player on the pitch’ for Man Utd vs Man City, ‘by a country mile…’

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Manchester United’s season has fallen apart on the domestic front with all hopes now pinned on the Europa League.

When the Europa League resumes against Lyon later this week, Manchester United need another spectacular performance from Bruno Fernandes.

Against Real Sociedad, Fernandes struck a hat-trick, showing what he is capable of. While he does not deliver a hat-trick each week, the Portugal international is almost always Manchester United’s best player.

Even in a drab, instantly forgettable Manchester derby that finished 0-0, Fernandes was impressive, and just needed a little more, a lot more quality around him.

Bruno Fernandes praised after Manchester derby

Even if his post-match embrace with rival Kevin de Bruyne would have had Roy Keane absolutely seething, Bruno Fernandes’ performance received credit.

Speaking to MUTV, former United prospect Phil Bardsley singled out Fernandes as being a cut above the rest of the players, on both teams.

Bardsley told the channel’s post-game coverage: “I think the best player on the pitch by a country mile was Bruno Fernandes.”

Elaborating on the midfielder’s performance, he added: “Think of the standards that he sets for his for his teammates and himself. I think we would have been in a spot of bother without him this season.

“The performances he puts in, covers every blade of grass, is involved in every bit of play going forward, he was instrumental again. Today he was absolutely outstanding.

“He is the heartbeat of this team, isn’t he keeps everything ticking, both parts, defending, the ability to keep on running.”

Fernandes creates

Bardsley added that he only drawback to Fernandes’ performance was that he rarely got into a position where he was able to shoot at goal from open play.

But the problem is quite clear – Fernandes cannot pass to himself.

He did manage to create three goalscoring chances for his teammates. On the other team, Kevin de Bruyne did not make a single key pass.

You just have to wonder what Fernandes would be capable of with an elite striker in this team. He already has 16 assists to his name this season, despite playing in a team where not a single striker has made it into double figures.

Fernandes is the only player to reach those numbers, with 16 goals this season, and hopefully still several more to come.