Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has vowed to come back stronger after missing his stoppage-time penalty in Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa.
Kortney Hause put Villa in the lead with an 88th-minute header. But, the defender’s late handball then gifted United a chance to steal a point.
Bruno Fernandes had a last-gasp opportunity to rescue a point for Manchester United from the spot on Saturday. However, the Portuguese blazed the ball high over the bar. Consequently, United suffered their first league defeat of the 2021/22 campaign.
Bruno Fernandes wants to win with Manchester United
Fernandes took to his Instagram and said: “Nobody is more frustrated and disappointed than me for missing the penalty and the consequent defeat.
“I’ve always assumed my responsibilities and I’ve always embraced them under pressure in moments like this. Today, I failed. But I took a step forward and faced the challenge with the same ambition and responsibility as when, on the many other occasions, the ball ended up in the net.
“Criticism and contrasting opinions are a big part of football. I’ve learned to live with it, even using them to drive me on, and I consider it all a very important part of my commitment to never stop trying to improve and to become the best player I can possibly be, for me and the team.
“Today I once again took the responsibility given to me almost since I joined United and I will take it again without any fear or dread whenever called upon. The most important thing for me is to win together and I’ll always do everything I can to help my teammates and the club to be the best we can be.
“I’m a player who leaves everything on the pitch, with great desire and commitment. And that’s what I’ll continue to do. Thank you for all your support after the final whistle! Hearing you chanting my name in the stadium was very emotional… I will come back stronger for me, because these are the standards I hold myself to, but most of all for my teammates and our fans who have always supported us.”
Ole: Bruno will ‘step forward’ again
Fernandes retained his penalty-taking duties despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence on the pitch. He missed only his second of 23 spot kicks (in normal time) for the club.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer complained after the match about the antics of Villa’s players as Fernandes prepared to take the penalty. Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez appeared to suggest that Ronaldo should have been stepping up.
Solskjaer wouldn’t confirm whether Ronaldo would take over spot-kick duties from Fernandes going forward.
“Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. Bruno is such a good penalty taker and today you would have backed him with your mortgage I would guess – unfortunately he just missed this one. But he is strong mentally and he’ll step forward again”, Ole said.
Fernandes has still made an impressive start to the Premier League season. He boasts a tally of four goals from his opening six games. Additionally, he will hope to make amends when United meet Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday.
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