Bruno Fernandes hits back at criticism over Marcus Rashford penalty decision
- Fernandes has been criticised for giving Rashford a penalty kick in the win over Everton
- Rashford scored the penalty to register his first Premier League goal since September
- Fernandes has discussed the criticism he's received as Man Utd captain
Bruno Fernandes has defended his decision to cede penalty taking duties to Marcus Rashford in Manchester United's win over Everton.
Regular penalty-taker Fernandes opted to give out-of-form Rashford the opportunity to score his first Red Devils goal since the start of September from the spot on Sunday, with the forward duly finding the back of the net in the eventual 3-0 win at Goodison Park.
The captain has since come under fire for the decision to allow Rashford to take the penalty from Man Utd legend Roy Keane - criticism Fernandes has now responded to ahead of his side's Champions League clash with Galatasaray.
"Obviously you don’t like to be criticised - everyone is the same - but at the same time I have to do what I think is the best for my team," he said ahead of the game.
"Probably I am not always right but in my head at the moment is the right choice, so I do it. It is quite normal when you play for Manchester United you are going to get criticised, even if you do well or bad, if you do the wrong or the right thing. I just have to deal with that, it is normal since I arrived at the club.
"In the beginning everything [was] perfect, because when you arrive in the first game, if you do something different than anyone else is doing, it’s gonna be all flowers. But after that I understand the tough part is always coming, because when the result is not coming, when the performance are not what everyone expects to be, because the expectations are always higher and higher.
"I am really open with everyone so no one until now has had a problem with me, so I think I should keep like that, everyone is pretty happy with my leadership."
Fernandes also explained the decision to give Rashford the penalty kick in a post-match interview after the victory over Everton, stating: "I felt Marcus needed a little bit of confidence.
"He needs his goal. Marcus is an excellent penalty taker too, I was 100% sure he could score that penalty. It's not about who takes it, it's about scoring the penalty and Marcus did it perfectly."
The creative midfielder was given the captain's armband during the summer by Erik ten Hag following the decision to strip Harry Maguire of the captaincy. Fernandes has started every single Premier League game since taking the armband, providing six goal contributions in the process.
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