Pep Guardiola has singled out the ‘exceptional’ Bruno Fernandes ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby, insisting his City side must nullify the United captain who can ‘always create something’.
Fernandes has come in for criticism at various stages this season with Roy Keane suggesting he should be stripped of the captain’s armband in October, with Gary Neville questioning whether he truly wanted it in the first place.
He came under fire once again following last weekend’s dismal defeat at home to Fulham but responded by providing the assist for Casemiro’s late FA Cup winner against Nottingham Forest midweek.
The Portugal international was an injury doubt heading into that game but played the full 90 minutes at the City Ground, continuing his remarkable record of having never missed a game through injury since his arrival at the club in January 2020.
United have just one win in their last six against their neighbours who are in rampant form, with Erling Haaland putting five past Luton Town midweek.
But Guardiola was full of praise for United’s captain ahead of kick-off, believing he can cause major problems at any moment and highlighting him as a player his side must keep quiet on Sunday afternoon.
‘He is an exceptional player,’ Guardiola said. ‘Especially the consistency to play in every single game and in every single competition.
‘I admire him a lot for that. He is a guy that when he has the ball, something is going to happen. In set pieces, in connections with players up front with [Alejandro] Garnacho, with Rashford, all the strikers they have up there.
‘What can I say, he is a really, really important player.’
Asked if his side will be working specifically to nullify Fernandes’ threat, Guardiola added: ‘Of course, it always has to be like that. Always he can be creating something.’
With City currently operating on another level to their rivals, Guardiola was asked if Fernandes and Luke Shaw would be the only United players he would take in his City squad.
A dismissive Guardiola said: ‘That is football fantasy. I don’t like it.’
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