Bruno Fernandes was on the receiving end of some not-so-complimentary messages in the Manchester United dressing room after his Europa League heroics on Thursday night. The United captain scored his second hat-trick for the club to fuel a 4-1 victory against Real Sociedad (5-2 on aggregate) and book a quarter-final clash with Lyon.
Fernandes has now registered 15 goals and 13 assists this season, once again embodying the shining light in a second successive miserable campaign to date. However, the 30-year-old’s crucial contribution to thumping the La Liga outfit still didn’t make him immune from being the butt of jokes among his colleagues after full-time. An image shared by Alejandro Garnacho on social media inadvertently revealed some crude messages written on Fernandes’ match ball.
As Garnacho and the Portuguese maestro smiled for the captain arm in arm, supporters were left in hysterics on social media after taking a closer look.
One message appeared to read: “How much you paid the ref?”
Another seemingly fired: “You were still s*** one half of the season.”
The only other message visible on the picture was more befitting of the general consensus about Fernandes’ performance, spelling out: “Top.”
United remain the only unbeaten team across the Champions League and Europa League this season, winning six games and drawing four.
Since Erik ten Hag’s sacking and the 2-0 win against PAOK under interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Red Devils have won five and tied one of Ruben Amorim’s European games.
Ten Hag oversaw three consecutive draws against Twente, Porto and Fenerbahce despite his side leading in each of the outings.
After Van Nistelrooy’s successful single assignment, Amorim orchestrated wins against Bodo/Glimt, Viktoria Plzen, Rangers and FCSB before the La Real clash.
United face a more daunting quarter-final test in Lyon, who dispatched FCSB 7-1 on aggregate in the round of 16 and boast a wealth of attacking talent who will be a threat.
Lyon sit sixth in Ligue 1 but have won six of their last seven games and are building momentum ahead of their encounter with the Old Trafford giants.
Amorim will be encouraged by his side’s improved performances himself despite recording just three wins in the last nine.
United were unfortunate to crash out of the FA Cup against Fulham, controlled most of the Europa League last-16 first leg in San Sebastian and would’ve beaten Arsenal if not for David Raya’s heroics.
A fourth meeting with Leicester City and another reunion with Van Nistelrooy awaits on Sunday. United have won all three by a 10-3 aggregate scoreline thus far.