Ruben Amorim: 'I don't believe Bruno is used to missing penalties'

Coach Ruben Amorim shared his thoughts on Bruno Fernandes' performance after the disappointing draw against Fulham.

Manchester United continued to raise concerns following their 1-1 draw with Fulham, as captain Bruno Fernandes not only missed a penalty but also showed clear frustration on the pitch. Coach Ruben Amorim admitted that his player was "unhappy" due to limited involvement in the game, amid United’s ongoing struggle to regain their identity after the worst season in Premier League history.

During the away match at Craven Cottage, Fernandes was the center of attention. In the 25th minute, the 30-year-old midfielder had a chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot but sent the ball over the crossbar with an inaccurate shot. This moment was seen as a turning point because although Man Utd took the lead in the 60th minute due to an own goal by Rodrigo Muniz, Fulham equalized when Emile Smith Rowe scored in the 73rd minute.

Fernandes’ form raised further concerns as he was not deployed in his usual attacking midfield role, instead starting as a central midfielder. Coach Amorim himself acknowledged that this significantly affected the captain’s involvement in the match.

“I think Bruno is not accustomed to missing penalties. He understands how crucial that moment was and how much it impacted the entire team. During the game, Bruno was unhappy because he wasn’t involved much in the play. He carries a lot of responsibility and believes that missing the penalty cost us the advantage,” the Portuguese coach said on Sky Sports.

Additionally, Fernandes was involved in a controversial incident. Just before taking the penalty, referee Chris Kavanagh accidentally collided with him but did not apologize. After the match, the Portuguese midfielder admitted this upset him but insisted it was not an excuse for missing the penalty. “I was annoyed because the referee didn’t apologize, but that’s not why I missed. I simply didn’t strike the ball well, my foot went too deep under the ball causing it to fly over the bar,” Fernandes explained.

Regarding the team’s overall performance, Coach Amorim said Man Utd played well at certain moments, especially early on. However, after scoring the opening goal, the players dropped back, focused solely on defending the lead, and lost control of the game. “We could have done better. The whole team tried hard, but after scoring, we lost our sharpness. The key is to maintain the pace, stay focused on our style, and fight until the final whistle,” he emphasized.

The second consecutive draw means Man Utd have yet to start as smoothly as hoped, and with captain Bruno Fernandes showing frustration and losing his edge from the penalty spot, Coach Ruben Amorim will face increased pressure to revive the Red Devils.