Ruben Amorim makes vow to Bruno Fernandes after latest Man Utd heroics
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was the hero in Thursday night's thumping victory over Real Sociedad in the Europa League Round after netting a superb hat-trick
by Andy Dunn · The MirrorRuben Amorim again saluted Bruno Fernandes and said he is desperate to help his “perfect captain” win trophies.
Fernandes fired Manchester United into the last eight with another skipper’s performance at Old Trafford.
After going behind to an early Mikel Oyarzabal spot-kick, Fernandes calmly rolled in two penalties and struck a superb third as Amorim’s side saw off Real Sociedad to set up a quarter-final clash with Lyon.
The win, capped by a Diogo Dalot strike in added time, means United remain the only unbeaten team in European competition and keeps their troubled season alive. And Amorim declared: “Bruno is the perfect captain for our team and we need to help him win titles because he deserves them. When we need him, he is always there.”
The 4-1 win was the best performance under Amorim and the United manager was clearly delighted, saying: “We did a very complete exhibition. We feel we can go to the next stage. We feel we can go to another stage.
“This game was good for the club, for the players and for the fans. I felt that we were ready for this kind of game. I felt the team was full of confidence. We showed a bit of the future."
United were helped by referee Benoit Bastien, who sent off Jon Aramburu just after the hour mark - with the home side 2-1 up - for denying Patrick Dorgu a goalscoring opportunity only 15 yards inside the Real Sociedad half.
But they did not need any help as they put up their best display for some time.
Fernandes, though, was not getting carried away, saying: “We have a long way to go, but we are confident if we focus on every game and have the right mentality we can win games.
"The progress will be seen if we get results. At this club it is all about results."
There was an unusual incident towards the end of the game when United appeared to be given a third penalty only for Dorgu to tell the referee he had not been fouled.
Amorim smiled: “It is the right thing to do so I am quite proud of him … but I cannot say if it is 0-0 or losing I have the same response."
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