Just as further danger seemed for struggling manager Erik ten Hag, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes saved his team on Wednesday, scoring twice in a 4-2 home win against Sheffield United, the worst team in the Premier League.
United fell down twice, with goals from Ben Brereton Diaz and Jayden Bogle for the visitors, but Fernandes saved the game from further collapse.
In the 61st minute, he equalized from the penalty spot after a foul on Harry Maguire, who had previously scored United’s first equalizer.
After that, Fernandes scored a powerful left-footed goal to put his team ahead, and he then set up Rasmus Højlund to ultimately bring their struggling opponents to the ground.
“We returned in the end. We make it difficult for ourselves to win games. However, it also shows some character,” the midfield player from Portugal said.
“We are scoring a lot of goals. It just comes down to the compactness that our team has to possess.”
Even though United’s win lifted them up to sixth position and kept them in the running for a European qualification slot, it was another unconvincing performance from Ten Hag’s team.
“Today has been very positive,” Ten Hag said. “The willpower to bounce back after two defeats. However, there were drawbacks as well. We must use this as a lesson: we threw it away, it can’t happen, it’s unacceptable.”
Sheffield United’s time is almost up; they have just 16 points from 34 games and might be demoted this coming weekend.
Some referred to United’s FA Cup semifinal victory on penalties as humiliating because they let go a 3-0 lead against Coventry City, a lower division team, and were only kept from loss by an oddly disallowed goal in extra time.
This week, Ten Hag came back swinging, calling the criticism dishonorable, but the Dutchman seemed to be gazing into the abyss as his team once again created difficulties for themselves.
As opportunities fell to nothing and Sheffield United keeper Wes Foderingham made three outstanding stops, including one from youngster Kobbie Mainoo and one from Diogo Dalot in the first minute, they should and should have been comfortably up.
However, in the 35th minute, United goalie André Onana gave the visitors the lead with a terrible throw out that Bogle intercepted and sprinted through to score.
Alejandro Garnacho, one of the bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season, sent in a low cross that Maguire deftly nodded in with his head to tie the score for United just before halftime.
Five minutes had passed in the second half when Ben Osborn cut back a ball that allowed Brereton Diaz to stab high into the goal, easily piercing United’s defense.
After Maguire fell down in the area and Fernandes stepped up to shoot his kick into the corner, United looked surprised but were given a lifeline.
However, Fernandes’ kick into the corner gave United a lifeline when Maguire went down in the area. After Hojlund, who scored the game-winning penalty on Sunday, drove in Fernandes’ ball, Fernandes displayed his skill with a magnificent finish, allowing United to finally breathe easy.
“He is really the team’s leader. Regarding his captain, Ten Hag expressed gratitude and added, “I’m very pleased with his performance.
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