Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes held back the tears during his media duties after Sunday’s thrilling 4-3 win against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Fernandes was among the United players to speak to the cameras after one of the competition’s greatest-ever ties unfolded at Old Trafford.
Thousands were still catching their breath in the aftermath of the clash, clinched by substitute Amad Diallo’s 121st-minute winner at the Stretford End.
United scored first but trailed 2-1 with three minutes to go in normal time and 3-2 with eight minutes left in extra-time. However, they somehow found a way to keep Erik Ten Hag’s hopes of second-season silverware alive.
Fernandes played every minute, as he so often does, and reserved special praise after full-time for Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Antony.
Wan-Bissaka was a last-minute starter after an injury to Jonny Evans on Saturday, rushing back following a spell on the sidelines.
Antony came on in the 71st minute and scored United’s first equaliser before featuring as a left-back in an unorthodox system.
“In the last 15 minutes, no one’s probably going to talk about it, but Antony made a great effort playing as a left-back to help us,” Fernandes explained to MUTV.
“Victor [Lindelof] was completely over and he couldn’t run anymore because he gave it all for us.
“And I want to get a word there for Azza [Aaron Wan-Bissaka] because we had Jonny [Evans] injured yesterday, and he made the effort to play today.
“He still wasn’t ready to play from the first minute, and he made a great effort to help us and start the game because we didn’t have many more players to call on.”
MUTV interviewer Liam Bradford then turned the attention to the Red Devils captain, making it clear how highly he is thought of among supporters.
“You’ve been a kind captain there, giving everybody a bit of praise, so I’m going to give some to you. You are always available for this team; you always give everything that you can physically give,” he said.
“It is appreciated by the fans all the way around the stadium. I hope you know how much you’re loved by the fans in the stands.”
Fernandes responded: “Ah, I appreciate that. You’ve got me a little bit emotional there because, obviously, there are good moments and bad moments, but I am always there.”
The Portuguese maestro lifted his first trophy since joining United in the Carabao Cup last February. He will be dreaming of FA Cup glory – which narrowly evaded him just months later – this season.
