Bruno Fernandes is the leader Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs — his skills do the talking and he’s on track to be a Manchester United

No two ways about, Bruno Fernandes is now the heartbeat of Manchester United.

The Portuguese midfielder followed a match-winning performance against West Brom in the Premier League with an inspired two-goal showing in the Champions League against Istanbul Basaksehir.

Fernandes was the star of the show again for United as they beat Istanbul Basaksehir

AFP OR LICENSORS

Fernandes was the star of the show again for United as they beat Istanbul Basaksehir
Fernandes caught they eye with his professionalism and leadership too, opting to relinquish the chance of a first-half hat-trick and instead choosing to hand teammate Marcus Rashford a penalty.

With the Red Devils looking comfortable and leading 2–0, he decided he’d rather keep the English forward’s confidence flowing and help him in his quest to be the Champions League’s top scorer in 2020/21.

Rashford repaid him with his fifth European strike, extending United’s lead to three goals and effectively putting the game beyond their Turkish opponents.

Asked if he was feeling charitable, Fernandes said: “No, that wasn’t the point.

“Every player wants to do a hat-trick, you know, but after the game in the Premier League [against West Brom] I told Rashy the next one he will take so I remembered that.

“And also because Rashy is one of the top scorers in the Champions League I think it will be important for him to keep going there and take on that confidence.

“As I said, it doesn’t matter who takes the penalty, the most important thing is scoring and the team scores. When the team scores, I score.”

Fernandes has been a class act for United

GETTY IMAGES

Fernandes has been a class act for United
It was a calculated risk from Fernandes, Rashford misses and he takes the heat for handing it over. But with Rashford scoring they both earned plaudits and pumped the Red Devils with a little more confidence as they continue to turn their season around.

The 26-year-old is a natural gambler too. In the Premier League he has been shooting, on average, from 25.7 yards out this campaign, while it was 23 yards last season.

And while his playmaking skills are not in doubt, he’s played 11.4 inaccurate short passes per game, often tricky ones into the forwards as he looks for another assist to be chalked up against his name.

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand questioned his leadership skills prior to the win over Istanbul Basaksehir, citing some sloppy passing.

Ferdinand isn’t sure Fernandes is the leader United need

Ferdinand isn’t sure Fernandes is the leader United need
He told BT Sport: “We were there the other day watching this game [West Brom]. It’s not just about Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] on the sidelines, or Mike Phelan or Michael Carrick talking on the sidelines, but sometimes you need a player.

“Bruno, who you don’t mind giving the ball away because he is the creative spark right, but he gave the ball away very cheaply probably about four times before half-time.

“I am sitting there looking around the team thinking who is going to be on to him? Who is going to be telling him? I would have been screaming.”