Bruno Fernandes was the catalyst as Manchester United defeated Crystal Palaceplaceholder image
Bruno Fernandes was the catalyst as Manchester United defeated Crystal Palace | Getty Images
Man Utd moved up to third in the Premier League table with victory over Crystal Palace at the weekend.
It wasn't a vintage Manchester United performance to defeat Crystal Palace, but it was enough to secure three points and move up to third in the Premier League table.
United struggled to create chances in the first half, with their only hope in the shape of club captain Bruno Fernandes. He went close to an equaliser when he forced a fine stop from a fierce free-kick, and could have had a couple of assists when he set up Benjamin Sesko and Harry Maguire for excellent headed opportunities.
It was little surprise then that Fernandes was the heart of another comeback win after the restart. He never looked like missing the penalty that drew the sides level and produced another excellent delivery into the box to create the winning goal. It takes his personal tally to 7 goals and 14 assists this season, and strengthened his unlikely case to be named Player of the Year.
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Dalot hails Fernandes inspiration
Bruno Fernandes had struggled for Manchester United in their 1-0 victory over Everton a week ago, but the sign of a top player is in their response. The 31-year-old was at the heart of everything United did well against Crystal Palace as he proved to be the catalyst for another win.
The Portugal international has set standards so high during his time with the club that it is very easy to take for granted just how often he produces moments of magic on the pitch. It is something Diogo Dalot is well aware of.
“A little bit, I think. When you're so consistent, when you play for many years at a very high level, sometimes, when you're not there for one game, people start doubting, and people start always thinking that you should do that all the time," Dalot said of his compatriot after the Palace win. "But that's the most difficult thing in football, is for you to be consistent during the whole season, whether you're going to have ups and downs, but he's always a player and person who shows up all the time and he never hides, so I think that's what this club needs.
He added: "It's important because it keeps you alive during the game at every moment. He's a player who can read the game really well and can read pretty much all the positions on the pitch. So he always likes to guide you on that. And if he has something that he believes that he can help you with, he will say it no problem."
The victory lifted United up to third in the Premier League and well-placed to secure Champions League qualification next season. They need to be in that competition if they are to keep Fernandes beyond the summer. Asked about the importance of returning to the top continental club competition, Dalot added: "That's the goal. We are very conscious that to do that, we have to do games like today, where you don't control for 90 minutes, where sometimes you don't play as you should, but you find ways to win.
"I think seasons like this are good for you to know that when you're playing Europa League and especially Champions League, those are the best years, those are best seasons and this year we play a maximum of 40 games, so this is nowhere near what the club should be, and the competitions that we should play in. So when we are there, when we get the main goal that I really believe that we're going to do next season. If we're playing Champions League, we cannot take for granted, and we need to put the club back in there."
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