Fernandes provides blunt response to Klopp dig at Man Utd
Man Utd midfielder Bruno Fernandes says he doesn’t “care” what Jurgen Klopp and other critics are saying about the Red Devils’ penalty record.
United have the chance to go six points clear of Liverpool on Sunday with a victory that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes would be an “upset”.
Fernandes says defeat would not “make Liverpool worse than before” and appears unruffled by the match coming up, so too talk by the likes of Klopp about the number of penalties they have been getting.
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“I don’t hear (them)! I don’t care, honestly,” Fernandes added. “You always see what people say but I really don’t care. I’m not focused on what they are saying.
“I played in Portugal and when you play for Sporting, Benfica and Porto are always talking about that kind of stuff – sometimes to put pressure on the referee, sometimes just to make some noise in the press.
“But, for me, the main point is when we have a penalty, if I go to take the ball to the penalty spot, I have to do my job.”
Few January acquisitions have made a bigger immediate impact in English football than the 26-year-old, who has flourished since joining Man Utd from Sporting Lisbon last year for an initial 55 million euros (£46.6million).
Fernandes has scored 19 goals and provided 14 assists in the Premier League alone, with his outstanding displays leading the midfielder to win a record four Player of the Month awards in a calendar year.
That is already as many as Cristiano Ronaldo managed during his entire Old Trafford stay, but Fernandes wants the kind of team glory enjoyed by his Portugal team-mate.
“As I’ve always said, for me the most important thing is winning trophies – team trophies – because we’re a football team and it’s not just Bruno,” Fernandes added.
“I want to win trophies with the team. Of course I’m very happy to win this award (for December’s Player of the Month).
“These kind of awards make you happy and confident and to work even more, and to get more and more from yourself.
“But, as everyone knows, I will be completely happy when I win a trophy with the club.”