Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim feels the club needs more players like Bruno Fernandes in the team. The Portuguese scored in the half-time injury time from a free kick against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday.
However, his goal was cancelled out by Declan Rice in the 74th minute. Both teams took six shots on target but the Gunners dominated the possession with 69%.
Fernandes was denied late after Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made a good save.
“I think [Fernandes] steps up all the time,” Amorim said. “Sometimes he can show frustration in moments, and that can hurt him more than anybody. But he wants to win, he is always available and always ready to play in different positions. When the team needs a goal or an assist, he is always there and always sets a good example.
“Any coach, when you want to bring players, expect the best. But sometimes you have to adapt. What I can say is that we need more Brunos, not just the character, but his availability and ability with the ball.”
On the other hand, Mikel Arteta showered praise on Bruno Fernandes after he scored the goal for the Red Devils.
“They just mentioned that if Bruno has done that, football is for [street-smart] players,” Arteta said of the free kick. “And if he has done that and capitalized on that, he was more clever than us and the referee.
However, both Arteta and Declan Rice felt referee Anthony Taylor had positioned the wall too far from the spot kick.
“He’s done it, it was a goal. They took advantage of that. Football is for clever people.”
Rice added: “It helps that the wall was about 15 metres back!”
Amorim wants his players to have a more attacking mindset in matches in order to reap rewards.
“The plan was perfect, but we need more possession of the ball and press a bit higher,” he said. “I don’t want my team to play like this — in the future I want to spend more time attacking in the final third than in a low block.
“But the rest of the performance, I think, was an example for the future. The players followed the plan and stuck together. Staying together is a good thing as an example of the future. But when you play in a club like ours, you have to push forward no matter what, and that is why the change needs to happen.”
Manchester United will next take on Real Sociedad on Thursday in the Europa League.
