Fernandes Frustrated After Referee Incident
Bruno Fernandes upset after no apology from referee Kavanagh during Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Fulham. The United captain admitted he was left annoyed after the referee collided with him just before his penalty attempt but made it clear the mistake was not an excuse for missing the spot-kick.
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The Missed Penalty
The incident happened in the first half when Fernandes prepared to take a penalty. As he began his routine, referee Chris Kavanagh accidentally bumped into him. Moments later, Fernandes skied the penalty over the bar, failing to give his side the lead when the score was still goalless. Manchester United later took the lead through Rodrigo Muniz’s own goal, but Fulham equalised with Emile Smith Rowe’s strike to share the points.
Fernandes Explains His Frustration
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Fernandes admitted he was “upset” with how things played out. He explained that penalty takers often rely heavily on routines and mental preparation, and having that disrupted can affect focus. What bothered him most was that the referee did not apologise for the incident. Still, he refused to use it as an excuse. “It upset me because the referee didn’t apologise, and that was what triggered me in that moment,” he said. “But that’s not the excuse for missing the penalty. I just hit the ball badly. My foot went too much under the ball, and that’s why it went over the bar.”
Impact on His Performance
Sporting boss Ruben Amorim reflected on Fernandes’ mindset after the miss. He noted that the midfielder is not used to failing from the spot, and the rare mistake seemed to affect his confidence. According to Amorim, Fernandes carried the weight of responsibility throughout the game, which made him less involved and less effective than usual. “He knows the importance every moment has in the team’s performance,” Amorim said. “And I think the missed penalty stayed with him. It was huge for us.”
A Moment to Move On From
While the missed penalty and lack of apology frustrated Fernandes, he acknowledged his role in failing to convert. For United, it was a costly moment, but for Fernandes, it’s another test of leadership as he continues to shoulder responsibility as captain.
