Nuno Espirito Santo insists Nottingham Forest did not ‘target’ Bruno Fernandes during the FA Cup clash between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United but Erik ten Hag’s skipper is a player who ‘needs to be controlled’.
Ten Hag certainly came out swinging, both before and after a hard-fought 1-0 win which sets up an FA Cup quarter-final clash with bitter rivals Liverpool.
The treatment of Bruno Fernandes, especially on social media he said, had been nothing short of ‘pathetic’ over the last few days, accusations of play-acting plaguing a man who yet again fought through the pain for his beloved Manchester United at the City Ground and was spotted limping away after setting up Casemiro’s 89th minute winner.
Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro secure FA Cup progress
“I see social media criticising him. It is pathetic,” Ten Hag hissed, the granite-carved Fernandes maintaining his remarkable record of having never missed a game for Man United through injury.
“He had a serious injury but he continued to play on Saturday (against Fulham) and then also he fought to be part of this game.
“He has a very high pain threshold. Last year, he did something similar against Spurs and I think in the semi-final (against Brighton in the FA Cup). It shows his leadership.”
Ten Hag’s opposite number, Nuno Espirito Santo, refuted the suggestions that Nottingham Forest were ‘targeting’ Fernandes during Wednesday’s hard-fought clash at the City Ground, even if the the Portuguese maestro given some rough treatment at times.
Nuno insists that there was nothing sinister going on. Merely a side looking to keep their opponent’s most creative talent quiet.
“I don’t think so, I didn’t see what Erik saw,” Nuno protests, speaking to BBC Sport.
“He (Fernandes) is a very good player. He needs to be controlled. We did that in a fair way.”
Manchester United bounce back from Fulham defeat
For all the criticism that has come Man United and Ten Hag’s way, this was their seventh win in nine games across all competitions since the turn of the year, although that impressive recent record will be put to the test by Manchester City this weekend.
Fernandes, meanwhile, is closing in on double figures for both goals and assists again in a Red Devils shirt.
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