Bruno Fernandes hails ‘almost perfect’ Manchester United performance

Midfielder opened the scoring from the penalty spot as United ended City’s winning streak

Karl Matchett
Sunday 07 March 2021 19:02 GMT
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(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

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Manchester United goalscorer Bruno Fernandes feels his team put in a near-faultless showing to beat Man City 2-0 and end their local rivals’ long winning run.

Goals from Fernandes, from the spot, and Luke Shaw meant that City’s 21-game win-streak is over and United themselves move back into second place in the Premier League.

And the Portuguese attacker said that the quality of the home side meant his team had to be at their best to ensure a return to winning ways for United, who had drawn their previous two in the league.

“We know it’s difficult to play against them, they defend really well and are good on the ball,” he told Sky Sports after the game. “But today we did almost everything perfect and the result is perfect for us.

“It’s not about beating City, it’s about performing well until the end of the season and try to win every game.”

While the three points were of course welcome and winning the derby is always a notable achievement, Fernandes doesn’t feel that the scoreline announced United as suddenly being capable to edge the biggest of games.

Many of the fixtures between the usual top-six sides have ended in tight matches and goalless draws this season, but the United man feels his team have played better in some of those games without getting rewards.

“Not for us [it doesn’t say United can now win big games]. We’ve performed better against other big teams and didn’t win. Today we scored and didn’t concede, that’s what football is about.

“Maybe against Liverpool we had more chances and played better and didn’t win the game.”

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