Bruno Fernandes brutally humbled a Spanish reporter who felt aggrieved by Norwegian referee Espen Eskas’ performance after Manchester United beat Athletic Club 3-0 on Thursday. The Red Devils are on the brink of another Europa League final after upsetting the odds by blowing Athletic away in the first half at San Mames.
Casemiro’s header opened the scoring on the half-hour mark before, seven minutes later, Fernandes doubled the lead from the penalty spot. Moments after the opener, Rasmus Hojlund looked destined to poke Noussair Mazraoui’s perfect low cross into the net. However, following a VAR review, he was later adjudged to have been pulled to the ground by Dani Vivian, who saw red for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Eskas played the role of pantomime villain among the rapturous home supporters from then on, and their mood didn’t improve when Fernandes notched another for 3-0.
Athletic players and coaches, as well as Spanish media, have fumed over the penalty and red card decision that sparked a head loss by the tie favourites.
There were shouts that Alejandro Garnacho committed a handball in the build-up to the incident, which Eskas waved away and VAR didn’t overrule.
But after full-time, Fernandes refused to entertain any suggestions that the referee got the decision wrong.
After a Spanish reporter asked for his thoughts on the penalty and red card, the Portuguese midfielder responded: “Do you think it wasn’t a penalty?”
The reporter admitted it could have been a spot-kick but disagreed with the red card, to which Fernandes enquired: “Why wasn’t it a red card? Do you know the rules?
“If he tries to tackle with his feet, it’s a yellow card. If he pushes him or does it with his hands, it has to be a red card.”
Fernandes also shrugged off a follow-up suggestion that Garnacho handled the ball in the build-up by doubling down on his stance.
“I didn’t see it, but I think there was also a penalty on Garnacho,” the 30-year-old confidently hit back.
“Talking about the referee here, I think it’s a custom in Spain and Portugal, but I’m in England, and my mind was changed a long time ago, so I’m not going to do it.
“The referees are like us, they make mistakes, but I don’t think he made a mistake today.”
United will look to finish the job when they welcome Athletic to Old Trafford next Thursday, four days after a Premier League trip to Brentford.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk