Former Arsenal & Chelsea star: Bruno Fernandes ‘doing what Paul Pogba was meant to do’ at Man United
Emmanuel Petit has today lavished praise on Bruno Fernandes, whilst simultaneously criticizing the leadership of Manchester United teammate Paul Pogba.
Fernandes impressing
On the back of weeks of rampant speculation, Portuguese midfielder Fernandes’ move to Old Trafford was finally made official late in January.
With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having been desperate to add a touch of much-needed creativity to his side’s midfield, the United board eventually agreed to fork out the hefty sum demanded by Sporting CP for their talisman.
The Manchester giants struck a deal which could eventually reach €80 million, with Fernandes having put pen-to-paper on a 5-and-a-half-year contract at Old Trafford.
Fernandes has since gone on to notch 9 appearances for the Red Devils, with it already evident the type of long-overdue spark set to be introduced to the club’s midfield by his arrival.
The 25-year-old has directly contributed to 7 goals in his 9 outings thus far, amid a string of superb displays.
In fact, so impressive has the Portuguese international looked to this point, that he was last week named the Premier League Player of the Month for February:
Congratulations to @B_Fernandes8 on winning the @EASPORTSFIFA Player of the Month for February 🔴🇵🇹#PLAwards pic.twitter.com/475tuPlc00
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 16, 2020
‘Changed the mentality’
And, as outlined above, one former Premier League star to have been particularly impressed by Fernandes’ sparkling form in the colours of United is Emmanuel Petit.
Speaking earlier today, one-time Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Petit was asked for his take on the Portuguese standout’s start to life in England, with the 49-year-old having been quick to lavish praise on Fernandes:
‘Fernandes has made a huge impact,’ Petit explained during an interview with the Mirror.
‘In the space of two months, he is the best buy in the winter market. He has made such a big impact. It’s like he’s been at the club for six years.’
Petit, though, was keen to stress that he feels the impact of United’s January arrival has gone far beyond just his classy displays on the pitch.
The Frenchman highlighted the mentality shift within Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad since Fernandes’ Old Trafford switch, before suggesting that such a change should have been forthcoming when Paul Pogba made the return to Manchester:
‘He’s changed the mentality inside the dressing room. It’s hard for a player to come in mid-season and do that.’
‘Paul Pogba was meant to be doing this at Manchester United. It’s what he should have done in terms of leadership on the pitch.’
Finally, Petit added:
‘But I’m looking forward to seeing them together on the pitch, I want to see if that can work, and I’m pretty sure it can work.’
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