Bruno Fernandes at risk of losing incredible record when Man Utd face Tottenham
Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes remains a ‘question mark’ for the Premier League clash with Tottenham on Thursday night after an injury he suffered during Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final win over Brighton at Wembley.
The United skipper, back from a European suspension that forced him to miss last week’s disappointingly convincing 3-0 defeat to Sevilla, had to leave the Wembley pitch in the 101st minute as a result of discomfort in his right foot.
Fernandes was later seen in a protective boot. But while he is now out of that boot, United boss Erik ten Hag has confirmed the day before the Spurs game that his talisman is still a doubt.
If Fernandes isn’t fit enough for at least a place on the bench and has to be omitted altogether, it would end an incredible run that has never yet seen him miss a game through injury in his career to date. At 28, illness is remarkably the only thing that has ever kept out of action in 11 years.
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Transfermarkt records show one game missed for Sampdoria during the 2016/17 season because of flu, as well as one for United last season through other illness. Fernandes did have a brief injury during 2018/19 when he was playing for Sporting CP, but it never coincided with any games.
Fernandes is known for his determination to play every minute possible and even said in a 2021 interview that a game every three days is ‘not enough’ to keep him satisfied.
“The most important [thing] is playing," Fernandes said.. "When the coach wants me, it's important to know I'm ready to play every game, every minute. I will never say I'm [too] tired to play because this is my dream. I will never be tired to play. When I was a kid, I played maybe seven or eight hours a day. So, to play 90 minutes every three days is not enough for me.”
The Portugal international made similar comments only last month when he said: “I will be unhappy if I don't start, if I don't play games all 90 minutes, the manager knows that. I'm fully fit, I'm available for the team. Everyone wants to play a full 90 minutes every game.”
WATCH NOW
On this edition of The Promised Land, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders & Rob Blanchette discuss Man Utd's progress to the FA Cup final following a penalty shootout win over Brighton, and Thursday's crucial Premier League trip to Spurs.
If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!