Paul Scholes has explained why he "feels sorry" for Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes after their humiliating 7-0 defeat to Liverpool.
It was an afternoon to forget for Erik ten Hag's men as goals from Cody Gakpo [2], Darwin Nunez [2], Mohamed Salah [2] and Roberto Firmino handed United their joint-heaviest defeat in its 145-year history.
After the full-time whistle, pundits and fans alike ripped into a host of United players, including Bruno Fernandes, who was labelled a "disgrace" by Gary Neville for his actions after they went 6-0 down.
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Fernandes endured a torrid time for large spells at Anfield but Manchester United legend Paul Scholes sympathised with the Portuguese midfielder.
Scholes, who hailed the 'telepathic' partnership of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford after their win over Barcelona last month, said Fernandes was being pushed to different positions in the Premier League clash.
“I actually feel sorry for him when he’s played," the former England international said.
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"He’s been pushed out to many positions to do a job for the team, he was on the left [vs Liverpool], he’s been on the right, he’s played through the middle, he has been a little bit all over the place."
Fernandes has been used as a winger on numerous occasions in recent weeks, allowing Jadon Sancho, for example, to adopt a more central attacking role.
Erik ten Hag says he relocated Fernandes to the right wing for their win over Manchester City in January to "create hesitation and confusion".
Weeks later and Robin van Persie compared him to Wayne Rooney after he impressed out wide in their Europa League win over Barcelona.
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"It shows as well that Fernandes plays on the wing, and great players do that for the team,” the Dutchman told BT Sport.
“Rooney did it as well in his time, many times, on the wing. It’s like when you are a great player, you are a team player. When the team needs you on the wing, then he does that."
Despite Scholes' comments, former teammates Gary Neville and Roy Keane were far less forgiving in their post-match analysis.
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“I’m going to start with Bruno Fernandes," Neville told Sky Sports in the aftermath of Sunday's game "I’ve had enough of him throwing his arms around at his teammates, I’ve had enough of him not running back. He whinges at everybody.
“He got pushed in the chest and goes down holding his face… he’s got to put a captain’s performance out there and that wasn’t a captain’s performance by a Manchester United player.
“I think Erik ten Hag will deal with him very, very strongly in this next 24-48 hours.”
Keane added Fernandes’ body language was "nothing short of disgraceful".
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He said: "A really talented boy, he's your captain, but his body language, waving his arms, not running back, you wouldn’t be happy with him in your dressing room."
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Topics: Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United, Premier League, Liverpool, Erik Ten Hag, Paul Scholes
Jack Kenmare