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Bruno Fernandes has praised Fred for “fighting” with the Brighton players to make sure his teammate could keep his cool and shoot Manchester United’s winning penalty.
In a dramatic finale to a throbbing Premier League clash at the Amex, Fernandes stood his ground to shoot home from the 10th spot in overtime, securing a 3-2 win for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
The penalty was awarded by Neal Maupay’s hand from a corner as United lunged forward in search of a last-gasp winner after Solly March led a tie in the fourth minute of injury time.
Fernandes said he had to have “balls” to find the net and win the Red Devils first league points of the season.
But he also acknowledged the role played by Fred, revealing that he had been able to maintain his focus because the Brazilian midfielder had continued to protest Brighton players away from him.
(Image: John Sibley / POOL / EPA-EFE / REX / Shutterstock)
“As everyone starts yelling and arguing and VAR and everything, I try to stay away, take the ball and try to stay focused,” Fernandes said in quotes published by the Manchester Evening News.
“I saw the goalkeeper take their bottles and everyone, the towel came out, so I was just taking the ball, waiting, ‘focus on what you have to do.’
“Of course, sometimes we say that you have to have balls to shoot a penalty like this.
“I know everyone trusts me, everyone expects me to score, and it was a big part of the game like I said.
(Image: Pool via REUTERS)
“Penalties are key in some games and today it was key. It doesn’t matter if I score or if someone else scores, what matters is the three points that we take home.
“After we had the penalty, everyone fought for everything: ‘penalty, no penalty.’ We kept our focus until the end. I felt everyone’s confidence behind me.
“I see Fred fighting everyone who was coming to get my focus, taking away the Brighton players.”
(Image: POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
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Brighton had taken the lead with a Maupay penalty five minutes before half-time, but United tied just two minutes later with an own goal by Lewis Dunk.
Solskjaer’s team was outclassed for much of the game by their hosts, who hit the wood five times.
But Marcus Rashford’s magnificent solo effort gave United a second-half lead, while March seemed to have secured what would have been a well-deserved draw for Brighton, ahead of Fernandes’ final goal.
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