Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been handed two red cards in just five days, escalating tensions for the midfielder and his team. His first dismissal came during United’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday.
Now, in a Europa League group stage clash against Porto that ended in a 3-3 draw, Fernandes has once again been shown the red card. The Portuguese international’s second booking occurred in the 82nd minute, after he committed another foul involving a high boot.
Having already received a yellow card earlier in the match for a similar infraction, Fernandes found himself in trouble again as he attempted to reach a cross into the box. His raised foot collided with Porto defender Nehuen Perez, who had bent down to head the ball clear.
Perez went down clutching his face, prompting the referee to issue a second yellow card to the United skipper, reducing his team to ten men for the remainder of the match.
This second red card in such a short span of time has left Bruno Fernandes frustrated, as he feels the situation was a misunderstanding. Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson, commenting on the incident during BBC Radio 5 Live’s coverage, explained that while Fernandes’s intention may not have been malicious, the challenge left the referee with no choice but to penalize him.
“Fernandes went in high with his foot, and it’s dangerous play. In his defence, he’s clearly focused on the ball, but you can’t give the referee an opportunity to make that call,” Robinson said.
The red card has come at a particularly difficult time for Fernandes, who has been under pressure to lead Manchester United through a challenging period. The team has struggled for consistency, both domestically and in Europe, and Fernandes’s leadership has come under scrutiny.
His fiery temperament, while often seen as a positive trait, has now resulted in disciplinary actions that could hurt his team’s progress, especially in a competition as crucial as the Europa League.
For Manchester United, the draw against Porto and the loss of their captain are setbacks they didn’t need as they push for better performances in both the Premier League and European competitions. Fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see how Fernandes bounces back from these consecutive dismissals, as the pressure mounts on both him and the squad.
Fernandes’s double red card situation also raises questions about Manchester United’s ability to maintain discipline in crucial matches. The team has been criticized in recent months for a lack of composure in high-pressure situations, and their captain’s latest transgressions seem to add to that narrative.
Going forward, Fernandes will need to strike a balance between his passionate approach to the game and maintaining the discipline required to avoid costly mistakes. As United look ahead to their next fixtures, all eyes will be on how their captain responds to this challenging period in his career.
