In the tense build-up to the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao, a highly controversial claim began circulating, allegedly involving former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
According to the reports, Solskjær harshly criticized current United captain Bruno Fernandes, suggesting he should be nowhere near the pitch for such a high-stakes fixture. The quote attributed to him was scathing: “Bruno should not be anywhere near the pitch today—not in a Europa League final, not against Tottenham. Every time he plays, United suffer.
He’s a pathetic loser who drags the entire team down with his weak mentality.” He allegedly concluded that starting Fernandes would be equivalent to handing Tottenham the trophy before the game even kicked off.
These statements, if true, would represent one of the most brutal public attacks by a former manager on a current player in recent football history.
However, the authenticity of this supposed outburst is highly questionable. There is currently no evidence or confirmation from any reputable media outlet or Solskjær himself to support the idea that such inflammatory remarks were ever made. In fact, Ole Gunnar Solskjær is widely recognized for his calm and professional demeanor, even in the most challenging circumstances.
It would be incredibly uncharacteristic of him to label a former player, especially someone as prominent as Fernandes, with such harsh terms in public.
Moreover, the claims also fall apart when measured against Bruno Fernandes’ actual performance this season. The Portuguese midfielder has been a standout performer for Manchester United, scoring 17 goals and providing 14 assists across all competitions.
His consistency and impact have not gone unnoticed, as he was recently honored with the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s record by winning the accolade for a fourth time. This recognition speaks volumes about how highly he is regarded both by the fans and within the club itself.
Critics of Fernandes often point to his performances in some major international matches, such as during the UEFA Euro 2020 where he struggled to replicate his club form and was eventually dropped.
However, these isolated instances do not overshadow his consistent club contributions or justify the level of criticism presented in the fabricated quote.
Current United boss Ruben Amorim has also shown full support for his captain. Amorim has defended Fernandes by pointing out his dedication, fighting spirit, and reliability—traits that are vital for any team competing at the top level. He continues to view Fernandes as an indispensable part of the squad.
In summary, while the quote attributed to Solskjær may have made headlines for its shocking nature, it appears to be entirely baseless and false. There is no legitimate confirmation that such statements were ever made, and the facts around Fernandes’ season simply do not support such extreme criticism.
