Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes chose his post-match words carefully after the team’s semi-final second leg victory.
After a 3-0 away win over Athletic Club, Manchester United were in pole position to qualify for the Europa League Final.
United made hard work of the second leg, and fans have learned not to expect any different. After trailing 1-0 at half-time, it was clear the next goal would be crucial.
Substitute Mason Mount made the breakthrough, equalising in the 72nd minute, and then the floodgates opened.
Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund and a long-range effort from Mount capped a 4-1 win and 7-1 aggregate victory.
Bruno Fernandes hails Mason Mount
Bruno Fernandes provided the assist for Casemiro’s goal, further adding to his own goal contribution tally for the season.
Fernandes has scored a staggering 19 goals and provided 18 assists, on the verge of hitting the 20-mark in each category.
But he knew this night was not about him, it belonged to £55 million teammate Mason Mount, who has had a nightmare spell since joining the club.
Mount scored at the weekend and was hailed as being ‘like a new signing’. He followed this up with a brace against Athletic Club, his best performance in a Manchester United shirt.
While on MUTV the pundits compared Mount’s turn and shoot for his first goal to Federico Macheda, his second goal had shades of David Beckham.
Bruno Fernandes acknowledged this with his post-game message, writing: “Reds we are going to Bilbao 🙌🏼 @masonmount bend it like becks 💫 you deserve this moment kid.”
Bruno Fernandes gets the attention too
Bruno Fernandes laid on the assist with his praise of Mount, but teammates past and present were desperate to repay the compliments.
Wonderkid turned superstar Amad Diallo paid tribute to Fernandes’ reliable brilliance, writing: “ALWAYS the best.”
Former United teammate Odion Ighalo, five years on, wrote: “My captain what a player,” underlining the impact Fernandes has had on him.
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