Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes briefly wore the armband for his national team as they put on an emphatic display against Armenia.
With the Premier League put on pause, Bruno Fernandes is one of 12 Manchester United players who jetted off for international duty this week.
Unfortunately, Portugal and United teammate Diogo Dalot withdrew with an injury, meaning Fernandes is now the only representative from the Red Devils in Roberto Martinez’s squad.
Despite Fernandes playing in central midfield for United this season, he was pushed further forward back into a No.10 side when Portugal faced Armenia on Saturday evening.
Portuguese media react to Bruno Fernandes vs Armenia
It was former United star Cristiano Ronaldo who stole the headlines after he scored a brilliant brace in the 5-0 win over Armenia.
Joao Felix also netted twice, with Joao Cancelo also scoring to give Portugal a comfortable victory in their World Cup qualifier.
Fernandes wasn’t the main man for Portugal, but the national press still praised his performance on the international stage.
Outlet O Jogo gave Fernandes a 6/10 rating, adding: “He delivered some dangerous passes at the edge of the opponent’s box in the first half and helped manage possession in the second half.”
A Bola also handed Fernandes a 6/10 rating and wrote: “He started off on the left and, without being brilliant, he delivered.
“When he drifted further to the right, his performance level rose, and he came close to scoring in the 54th minute. After Ronaldo came off, he donned the captain’s armband, an accessory that suited him well, as he was one of the leaders of the final attack.”
Bruno Fernandes stats for Portugal vs Armenia
Recently, Fernandes ‘stepped up’ against Burnley to score his first goal of the season. He didn’t add any goals or assists to his tally while with the Portugal squad.
But while Fernandes did not etch his name on the scoresheet, the key figures behind his performance prove just how influential he truly was.
As per Sofascore, Fernandes was given an 8.1 rating, suggesting the Portuguese press may have been slightly harsh. Only Cancelo and Felix got higher ratings.
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Touches | 61 |
| Passes completed | 89% (40/45) |
| Key passes | 4 |
| Crosses | 100% (5/5) |
| Big chances created | 1 |
| Dribbles | 100% (1/1) |
Fernandes deserved at least one assist for his performance after making four key passes and creating one big chance.
His ability on the ball has never been in question, and Fernandes boasted a good pass success rate and also completed all five of his crosses.
A strong performance from United’s captain ahead of the Manchester derby.
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