At a Glance
- Manchester United beat Aston Villa
- Man City’s Grealish in awe of Fernandes
- One step closer to Champions League return
Manchester City winger Jack Grealish, who is currently on loan at Everton, praised Bruno Fernandes following the Manchester United captain’s display against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Fernandes registered his 15th Premier League assist of the season with a whipped corner that found Casemiro, before adding his 16th with a sublime, line-splitting pass that Matheus Cunha calmly slotted past Emiliano Martinez.
Those two assists took Bruno Fernandes beyond David Beckham for the most assists in a single league season for Manchester United. Beckham previously held the club record for assists with 15 during the 1999/00 campaign.
Grealish goes big on Brilliant Bruno
With the Everton loanee out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a foot stress fracture, the English winger took to his Instagram story to show his admiration for the Portuguese midfielder.
“Bruno is absolutely unbelievable footballer man,” he said on his Instagram story as the Red Devils led in the 73rd minute.
Both Grealish and Fernandes share the distinction of being the only players to register two or more assists in three Premier League matches this season.
It was a performance that was worthy of the praise, with the Portuguese magnifico pulling the strings in a must-win match for Michael Carrick’s side.
It marked a third straight match in which Fernandes contributed to a goal, with the Portuguese playmaker also creating two key chances in the contest. The Red Devils captain has been a standout performer under interim boss Michael Carrick, playing a key role in the push to return to the Champions League.
Since Carrick took over the reins, Fernandes has recorded two goals and eight assists in nine matches, helping United climb from sixth to fourth in the table and strengthening their hopes of returning to Europe’s pinnacle club competition.
During that same period, the Reds have also sat top of the Premier League form table, with only Arsenal, on the brink of a Premier League title, coming within one point of the Red Devils.
Red Devils eye Champions League Return
With a fine run of form, blighted only by a defeat to Newcastle United, Manchester United have placed themselves firmly in pole position to secure a return to European football.
What once seemed an unlikely prospect after last season’s disappointment—finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the UEFA Europa League final—has now become a genuine possibility.
Manchester United occupy fourth place with 54 points, three ahead of Aston Villa and holding a five- and six-point cushion over Liverpool and Chelsea.
They face Bournemouth on Friday night, after which they will have a 24-day hiatus due to the international break.
