Bruno Fernandes caught the eye of Alejandro Garnacho after the Manchester United captain dropped a message following the Europa League tie against Athletic Club.
The Red Devils have one foot in the door for the Europa League final after Manchester United defeated Athletic Club in the first-leg semi-final clash.
Ruben Amorim’s men travelled to Spain in the week and United secured a 3-0 win over Athletic Club on Thursday evening at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
Casemiro opened the scoring for United in the first half before Athletic Club were reduced to 10 men after Dani Vivian was sent marching down the tunnel.
Following the red card to Dani Vivian, the Red Devils received a penalty and Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot-kick and put United 2-0 up on the night.
Fernandes completed his brace before half-time and United maintained their lead over 10-man Athletic Club in the second half to seal a crucial advantage.
United will hold a 3-0 aggregate scoreline over the La Liga outfit when the Red Devils host Athletic Club at Old Trafford for the return leg on 8th May.
The remainder of the Red Devils’ 2024-25 season under United manager Ruben Amorim hinges on the Premier League club’s success in the Europa League.
Alejandro Garnacho’s telling reaction to Bruno Fernandes after Man Utd’s 3-0 Europa League semi-final win vs Athletic Club
Manchester United languish in 14th place in the Premier League table and the Red Devils are unlikely to finish in the top half of the table in their lacklustre season.
Ruben Amorim’s side can ensure a return to Europe in the 2025-26 season with a place in the Champions League if United can lift the Europa League trophy.
The 40-year-old United manager could also lift his first major silverware at the Red Devils if the Premier League club’s Europa League campaign end in success.
Bruno Fernandes took to Instagram after the first-leg encounter with Athletic Club and the 30-year-old Red Devils midfielder sent a heartfelt message to United fans.
“Great win away from home,” he wrote, adding a raised hands emoji with his message.
“Big one next week at Old Trafford.”
Alejandro Garnacho was spotted in the comments of Fernandes’ post and the 20-year-old Argentina winger hailed his United teammate with the ultimate compliment.
“World class,” he simply wrote, adding an emoji of a face exhaling.
What Ruben Amorim said about Bruno Fernandes’ Man Utd display vs Athletic Club in the Europa League semi-final in Bilbao
Alejandro Garnacho’s message to Bruno Fernandes after Manchester United’s Europa League semi-final win against Athletic Club. Credit: Instagram
Speaking after the 3-0 scoreline at the San Mames Stadium, United manager Amorim singled out Fernandes as one player who deserved praise on the night.
“Even players like [Manuel] Ugarte have a lot of experience, but he was a little bit nervous,” he said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“Patrick [Dorgu] was a little bit nervous. It’s a semi-final, of course it’s not the Champions League but it’s a European competition, so these kind of players like Casemiro, Harry [Maguire], Bruno Fernandes help a lot.”
United will return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, with kick-off slated for 2pm UK time.
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