Gary Neville
Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes had the chance to put Ruben Amorim’s side in the lead during the first half of their Premier League clash with Fulham but the Portuguese skied his effort over the bar. Gary Neville offered an explanation for the skipper’s gaffe – and he’s been slammed for it online.
Once again, following their 1-0 loss to Arsenal on the opening weekend, the Red Devils were bright in patches against Marco Silva’s side but were ultimately let down by their exploits in the final third, as evidenced by Fernandes’ miss from 12 yards out.
It’s uncharacteristic for the central midfielder, who is widely regarded as one of the best penalty takers in world football, to produce such a terrible effort from the spot – and Neville, 50, believes he has figured out what unnerved him pre-penalty.
Neville Slammed for Bruno Fernandes Penalty Assessment
Gary Neville
Amorim’s men were given the perfect chance to earn a lead heading into the break; Fulham defender Calvin Bassey wrestled United’s Mason Mount to the ground and referee Chris Kavanagh initially waved off any protests from the visiting side.
However, a closer look at the in-the-box incident on the pitch side monitor and the penalty was given. Fernandes stepped up but his effort, to the delight of the home contingent, was uncharacteristically blazed over the bar.
On commentary duty for Sky Sports alongside Peter Drury, Neville – who played 600 times for the Old Trafford outfit – insisted that the fact that Kavanagh bumped into United’s skipper before he took his penalty, which meant he had to re-adjust his pre-penalty approach, caused him to sky his effort over the upright.
“He picked the ball up. It was the referee maybe. He’s given him a little bit of a bump by accident,” Neville said before adding that Fernandes looked unnerved as he re-adjusting himself for the penalty. “He goes back and it just unnerved him a little bit.”
“I thought it was because the referee was just readjusting players at the edge of the box but it’s not. He was still having a go at the ref, Bruno Fernandes. He feels it might have been a bit clumsy.”
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Online, there are some that believe Neville is accurate in his assessment. “Kavanagh ruined Bruno there. His head was on Mars after that bump and he never recovered after the miss,” one wrote as another added: “Kavanagh proper rattled Bruno before the penalty there. Not the usual cool penalty from the skipper.”
While there were a few fans who agree with the defender-turned-pundit, the majority believe that he is merely ‘blaming’ the official for Fernandes’ terrible effort from 12 yards out. On X, one said: “Listen to Neville with all the excuses for Bruno.”
“Gary Neville blaming Bruno skying a penalty on the referee bumping into him 30 seconds before,” a second supporter said before adding: “Is Gary Neville blaming the referee for Bruno Fernandes skying the penalty?”
“’The referee giving him a slight nudge unnerved him a little bit.’ Gary Nevile on why Bruno Fernandes skied his penalty out of Craven Cottage. The level of bias is genuinely so cringe.”
“Enjoying some more unbiased Gary Neville commentary on the Manchester United game yet again. Blaming the referee for Bruno Fernandes missing his penalty just normal stuff,” a final said in utter disbelief of Neville’s remarks.