Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes says he enjoys hearing people complain about his goals from the penalty spot.
The Portugal midfielder has scored 110 goals for the club, with 43 of those strikes coming from penalties. Rather than being frustrated by the attention given to that part of his record, Fernandes believes the complaints add to his enjoyment when he finds the net from 11 metres.
“I like it when people moan about my penalty goals,” Fernandes said.
His comments came after he scored a hat-trick in Manchester United’s recent Premier League match against Ipswich Town, which ended in a 5-2 victory. One of his three goals in that game was a penalty.
The three-goal performance added to Fernandes’ overall tally for the Red Devils and again highlighted the importance of penalties to his scoring record. Of his 110 goals for Manchester United, 43 have been scored from the spot, meaning penalties account for a significant part of his total.
Fernandes’ latest hat-trick included both a spot-kick and two goals from open play, as Manchester United recorded a five-goal victory over Ipswich. The result provided the setting for the midfielder to discuss the reaction that often accompanies his penalty goals.
The midfielder’s remark makes clear that public criticism does not lessen his satisfaction when he scores. Instead, he appears to relish the response from those who believe penalties should be viewed differently from goals scored during open play.
For Fernandes, however, the goals remain part of his contribution as Manchester United captain and as one of the club’s leading scorers. His 110-goal total includes the 43 successful penalties mentioned in his assessment of the public reaction.
The Portugal international’s three-goal display against Ipswich was the most recent occasion on which he added to that tally. One of those goals came from the penalty spot, giving him another example of the type of finish that has prompted the complaints he says he enjoys.
Manchester United’s 5-2 Premier League win therefore combined Fernandes’ scoring milestone with the latest expression of his attitude towards penalties. The captain has made his position clear: criticism of his spot-kicks is not something he wants to avoid, but a reaction he welcomes when those attempts end in goals.