Jose Mourinho has taken a light-hearted swipe at Bruno Fernandes for his Manchester United penalty record, joking that the midfielder “had about 20 to score” in the second half of the season.
United set a new Premier League record for the most penalties won in a single campaign when Anthony Martial was brought down in the box during a crunch clash with Leicester on Sunday.
Fernandes, a €55 million (£50m/$65m) January signing, stepped up to convert the Red Devils’ 14th spot-kick of 2019-20, which set them on their way to a 2-0 victory at the King Power Stadium.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men secured third place and Champions League qualification as a result, while extending their unbeaten run in the top flight to 14 matches.
United have picked up more points than any other Premier League side since Fernandes’ arrival from Sporting CP, with the Portuguese recording 10 goals and eight assists in his first 20 appearances for the club in all competitions.
However, six of the 25-year-old’s efforts have come from the penalty spot, and it has been suggested that the Red Devils have benefitted from a number of contentious refereeing decisions and VAR interventions since returning from lockdown in June.
Mourinho told Portuguese publication Record:
“Bruno came in, was fit, played very well, improved the United team and also proved to be a great penalty taker, one of the best in the world, because he had about 20 to score.”
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