Manchester United‘s victory over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup has raised concerns regarding the fitness of star midfielder Bruno Fernandes, casting a shadow over his unavailability due to injury for the upcoming Manchester Derby.
Bruno Fernandes Could Miss Out on Derby due to Injury
Fernandes played a pivotal role in United’s triumph, contributing a crucial assist that led to Casemiro’s last-minute winning goal.
However, his participation came at a cost, as he was seen limping out of the City Ground after the match, prompting worries for manager Erik ten Hag ahead of the highly anticipated clash with Manchester City.
Despite battling through injury to complete the full 90 minutes against Forest, Ten Hag acknowledged the severity of Fernandes’ condition, revealing that the Portuguese international had been nursing a significant injury.
The midfielder’s determination to play despite the pain underscores his leadership and commitment to the team, according to the United boss.
“We have serious problems. I was very happy Rapha [Varane] fought to play this game and also Bruno. He had a very bad injury as well. He fought to be part of this game,” Said Ten Hag after the game.
“So I don’t go to tell what it was but it was a serious injury. When you see that maybe they criticise him on social media, it’s pathetic. It can’t be. He has a serious injury, he continued to play on Saturday.”
“Now also he fought to be part of this game. He has a very high pain threshold. Last year, he also did something similar. He showed his leadership, expresses his character and it’s very good when you are a leader.” Said the Man Utd Boss.
Also Read: Manchester United’s Harry Maguire Ruled Out of FA Cup Clash Amid Injury Woes
Important Fixtures in Line for Man Utd and Fernandes
The extent of Fernandes’ injury remains uncertain, but his potential absence would be a major blow for United as they prepare to face City and Everton in crucial fixtures before their FA Cup quarter-final encounter with Liverpool.
Reflecting on the victory over Forest, Ten Hag emphasized the importance of scoring at the right moment and praised his team’s performance.
With challenging matches on the horizon, including clashes with title contenders, United will need to assess Fernandes’ fitness carefully as they aim to maintain their momentum in the ongoing campaign.