Fernandes wins Premier League award for February

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has been voted the Premier League’s Player of the Month for February, in further recognition of his influential start to life at Old Trafford.

This is the third individual prize that the Portuguese has won since completing a transfer from Sporting on 30 January, after taking home our own fan-voted trophy and the PFA’s monthly gong.

Fernandes made three top-flight appearances throughout the second month of 2020, contributing to a draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers before inspiring victories over Chelsea and Watford.

So far, Bruno has played in nine United matches across all competitions, scored three goals, registered four assists and, perhaps most importantly of all, earned the love of the Reds' supporters.

In an interview with Sky Sports that aired over the weekend, our Portuguese magnifico explained he is delighted to receive such love from the fans, yet he remains humble amid the widespread praise.

“We can talk about a new start after Bruno but it is not about Bruno, it is about the team. One player doesn't change a team. The team changes when everyone pushes together for the same side.

“But the support I receive from the fans since the first day is amazing. I listened to the song they do for me and I was like, ‘I have been here for two days and I already have a song!’

“The love they give me in this first month is really good.”

Fernandes has been roundly praised for his performances and those admirers include former right-back Gary Neville, who has hailed his impact on the club: “Bruno Fernandes has made an impact beyond what anyone could have expected, not just in possession but out of possession,” he said. “The way he sprints and gets at people, he is hungry and it looks like it is rubbing off on people.”

Asked specifically about these comments, Bruno said: “It is so nice to hear these kind of words from legends. When I react, when I lose the ball, I am angry and every time I want more. This is the difference between me and some players. If you want to be better and better, and if you want to be one of the best, you need to look for details. I think that if you have one, two, three or four players in the team who have that desire, you push the others and you need to push the others.”

Roy Keane, also speaking on Sky Sports in his role as a pundit, said this about our January signing: “He has lifted everybody at the club. It is as if he has been there for 20 years. He has got pure quality and it looks like he is going to be a big player for United for the next few years.”

Quizzed for his reaction to those comments, Fernandes displayed his ambition as a Red: “These are big words from a big player,” he said. “This is what I want to do in Manchester. I want to be the best I can and, if it is possible, be remembered as one of the best in Manchester.”

Congratulations to Bruno on another well-deserved award.