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How Bruno Fernandes' 'weird' skill sets him apart from De Bruyne

Pat Nevin believes that Bruno Fernandes' 'weird' passing and movement is a rare commodity in worl...



Soccer

How Bruno Fernandes' 'weird' skill sets him apart from De Bruyne


Pat Nevin believes that Bruno Fernandes' 'weird' passing and movement is a rare commodity in world football.

Nevin joined us to look at United's season so far, ahead of a crunch match with Liverpool on Sunday 17th January.

It is well-documented that Fernandes has been the catalyst for United's relative resurgence, but just what is is that he is doing differently?

Bruno Fernandes

"As an ex-player, I am looking for something that [he does] that really makes me really quite surprised. That [someone] spotted it, had the awareness to see it, and had the timing to do something that is different from everyone else.

"Yes, he is good at free-kicks and penalties [...] but his timing of releasing passes is very weird. It is very different from most people.

"The ball comes to him at pace; he never seems to stop, slow it down and play it in another direction. He manipulates his body in such a way as to flick it round, and he's off.

"Everyone else has taken a second to do that - he has done it, and he has moved. If you are a defender, you have put yourself in a position to stop what a normal player would do. That is what they all do.

"You do that to [Bruno Fernandes] and he's gone - you have lost him.

"He does that quicker than any other player in the Premier League. I think even more than [Kevin] de Bruyne.

"De Bruyne has got other skills that [Bruno] hasn't to that level, but in that one specific area of skill - I'm not sure that I know that many in the British game over the last few decades that has what he has got."

Cavani return for MUFC

In other Manchester United news, Edinson Cavani returns to contention following a three-match ban for a post construed as offensive by the FA.

Nevin believes that Cavani is a 'footballer's footballer' who could help United bridge the gap to silverware.

"Every time I saw him [at PSG], he missed so many chances - an absolute boatload - and I would come away thinking 'He's good but he's not that good.'

"There was another guy like that years before - there was a period everyone would say that about Zlatan. He would come and play against English teams and would have a stinker.

"There are some players that you need to watch play regularly, Cavani is one of them. The work ethic and attitude that United need, he shows it brilliantly."

 

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Bruno Bruno Fernandes Cavani Edinson Cavani Fernandes Manchester United Mufc