Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick inManchester United’s Europa League win over Real Sociedad (Picture: United Stand / YouTube)
Bruno Fernandes gave a textbook response to Roy Keane’s scathing criticism in the wake of the club legend claiming he is failing in his role as Manchester United captain.
The Portugal international replaced Harry Maguire as skipper in the summer of 2023, but the Portugal international’s suitability for the role as been questioned on several occasions.
As recently as last month, Keane suggested that the Portugal international’s undoubted talent was ‘not enough’ to survive on alone and argued he could be doing more in his capacity as the leader of a side that is languishing in mid-table.
United’s hopes of ending the season on a high, meanwhile, received a major shot in the arm last night as they advanced to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Recovering from the blow of falling behind on aggregate to Mikel Oyarzabal’s early penalty, Fernandes grabbed the tie by the scruff of the neck and scored a hat-trick that put his team in the next round.
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After delivering such an inspirational performance, it was no to surprise to see the 30-year-old asked for his response to Keane’s cutting observations.
Rather than offer what may have been considered a justified cutting response, Fernandes instead claimed Keane was entitled to his opinion and would simply continue to do his talking on the pitch.
What Roy Keane said about Bruno Fernandes
Keane: They drew at Everton and it’s like they won the cup. It’s bizarre. I see the fans at matches and they are singing for Bruno, these boys are imposters.
Wright: No, not Bruno.
Keane: Wrighty, I have had enough of that rubbish. Watch the game with him, watch him against Leicester in the FA Cup, watch them against Everton, people pretending to close people down.
Wright: Who is bringing you guys back into the game? It’s not Bruno [who is the problem] Roy, when we are talking about someone who can save you, it’s Bruno.
Keane: Save us? We are 15th in the league. He’s saving them? Praise the Lord.
Wright: If he wasn’t there where would you be?
Keane: Talent is not enough. Bruno is a talented player but it is not enough. You talk to me about Tony Adams, he was a fighter, Bruno is not a fighter. You can’t all put the ball in the top corner but you need someone who is saying to the lads, “are you with me?”
Wright: Maybe he’s not that type of captain but he is saving you, playing that pass…
Keane: Saving, what’s he saving? 2-2 at Everton?
Wright: [Pointing to the camera] If Bruno is not there, United are in the relegation zone.
Keane: He’s got more talent than most players can dream of. but talent is not enough to play for a big club. if you think talent is enough…
Wright: It’s not all on Bruno.
Keane: Where do you start then? If you start on a young lad you say, “oh we can’t start with him, he’s young”. You can’s start on a foreign player because he’s new to the league. Maguire? Maguire the other day couldn’t even jump. Who do you pin on at Man United if you’re talking about the players who walk on the pitch… forget the board and all that for a second, the players on the pitch, who do you start pointing fingers at?
At some stage players have to look at themselves and look in the mirror. Who would you start at for United? You’re 15th in the league after a 2-2 draw at Everton.
Wright: You say who are you starting with, I know I’m not starting with Bruno.
Keane: Oh of course not. Who are you starting with?
Wright: I don’t know. But just because you are captain…
Keane: You sit here every week and say Tony Adams was amazing, that’s the captain we expect.
Wright: But you haven’t got that!
Keane: Was Tony Adams the most talented player in the Arsenal dressing room?
Wright: No.
Keane: So why do you look up to Tony Adams and have so much for time for him?
Wright: Because he’s ana amazing leader. He led us to the championship.
Keane: And what is leadership about to you? It’s about action.
Wright: Bruno does action, maybe you don’t like his petulance. He needs more players and quality around him. I’m not having Bruno…
Keane: When you go out on that pitch, you want the ball. When you go to close someone down, close them down properly.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Jean Catuffe/DPPI/Shutterstock (15197810d) Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrates his first goal on a penalty kick during the UEFA Europa League, Round of 16, 2nd leg football match between Manchester United (Man U) and Real Sociedad on March 13, 2025 at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England - Photo Jean Catuffe / DPPI FOOTBALL - EUROPA LEAGUE - MANCHESTER UNITED v REAL SOCIEDAD, , Manchester, Royaume Uni - 13 Mar 2025
Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick in Manchester United’s 4-1 win over Real Sociedad
(Credits: Jean Catuffe/DPPI/Shutterstock)
He told reporters: ‘Everyone has an opinion and that’s fine. I can’t change the mind of people. I have to go on the pitch and try to do the best I can for the club.
‘Roy Keane was an amazing captain for the club, one of the best as everyone says. I think I have the chance to see much from him, maybe only the last few years. But he was great for the club, won everything for the club.
‘He has massive respect from everyone and my respect. He has to give his opinion in a programme and this is what he thinks, it’s about me doing it on the pitch to try to change his mind or trying to do something that he sees as a good thing.
Manchester United, ManU FC v Real Sociedad Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot 20 scores a GOAL 4-1 and celebrates Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund 9 during the Manchester United FC v Real Sociedad UEFA Europa League Round of 16, 2nd Leg match at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, United Kingdom on 13 March 2025, Credit:IMAGO / Avalon
Diogo Dalot put the icing on the cake for Manchester United against Real Sociedad
(Credits: IMAGO / Avalon)
‘I do it in my own way, I don’t want to copy anyone. I try to be the best captain for my teammates I try to help everyone in the best way I can.
‘I have a lot of things to improve, not only as a captain but as a person, a player, a human being and that’s fine. Criticism is always going to be a part of it and will make me grow and understand there is a long way to go.’
While Fernandes is in the middle of a purple patch, it was another difficult night for Rasmus Hojlund whose run without a goal now stands at 21 games.
The Denmark international did at least provide an assist for Diogo Dalot’s later goal and Fernandes is confident it won’t be long before Hojlund is back on the goal trail.
Soccer Football - Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Manchester United v Real Sociedad - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - March 13, 2025 Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund and Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrate after the match REUTERS/Phil Noble
Rasmus Hojlund has now gone 21 games without a goal for Manchester United (Credits: REUTERS)
;He’s a striker,’ said Fernandes. ‘It’s all about goals, he’s going to be criticised for not scoring but in the dressing room, we want him to score as many as he can.
‘He got the penalty for the first goal, for my third he took the defender with him. There’s a lot of things he does which don’t get seen from the outside world, but we see it.
‘We see how much he wants to work and score, and I’m sure the goals will come.’
Head coach Ruben Amorim echoed those sentiments, adding: ‘We play with two No .0s, we need one player to push the team to make the runs. Hojlund is doing that and helping the team a lot.
‘He made three or four connections today to change the game. He got an assist, and he just needs to score. He is so anxious, you can see it. He will score one.’
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