Reporter silenced by Bruno Fernandes for lacking game understanding, as Man United's advantage stemmed from obscure red card rule in Spanish league.
Sparky Fernandes Storms Back in United's Europa League Victory
In an intense exchange, Manchester United's dynamic captain, Bruno Fernandes, gave a piece of his mind to a reporter questioning a controversial red card decision during the Red Devils' Europa League victory over Athletic Bilbao.
The incident unfolded after a rigorous VAR review, which deemed that defender Dani Vivian had impeded Rasmus Hojlund in the area, granting United a vital penalty. Vivian received his marching orders for not attempting to play the ball.
The reporter seemed unconvinced when grilling Fernandes, who didn't hesitate to clarify the rules of the game.
"Ya, why wasn't it a red card? You know the rules?" Fernandes retorted in his third language. "If he tries tackling with his feet, it's a yellow. If he pushes or does it with his hands, it's a red."
The Portuguese midfielder, who flawlessly converted the penalty and added another goal minutes later, didn't shy away from addressing the controversial incident preceding the spot-kick.
"So, did he tackle the lad with his hands or play the ball? I didn't see it, but I reckon that was a penalty for Garnacho too," he added, dismissing the uproar as typical post-match banter in Spain and Portugal.
Following the match, Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde expressed his dissatisfaction over an overlooked handball by Alejandro Garnacho in the lead-up to Vivian's foul. However, Fernandes maintained his ignorance about the incident and focused on the team's exceptional performance.
"We had our chances, took them, and won the match. End of story," he concluded.
With a powerful 3-0 lead, United look forward to hosting Bilbao in the second leg at Old Trafford, hoping to bag a return trip to San Mames for the Europa League final later this month.
#### Football FeverThe San Mames crowd, brimming with enthusiasm for a potential Europa League final appearance, saw their dreams shattered within 45 minutes as United stormed ahead relentlessly. The Red Devils' unyielding offense left Bilbao struggling to keep up in this epic showdown.
#### Enrichment Data:During the 35th minute of the match, Dani Vivian was shown a red card after pulling back Rasmus Hojlund without attempting to play the ball, leading to a penalty for Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes, the team's captain, scored the penalty, making it 2-0 in favor of United.
Sources report mixed reactions to the VAR decision, with some football fans debating its accuracy, while others agreeing it was a correct call to protect Hojlund from a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Bilbao's manager, Ernesto Valverde, expressed his dissatisfaction over an overlooked handball by Alejandro Garnacho in the lead-up to the foul. However, Bruno Fernandes did not comment directly on the handball incident and instead focused on the team's performance during the match.
[1]: https://www. UEFA. com/uefa-europa-conference-league/season=2022/matches/round=2001585/match=3231281/summary[2]: https://www. independently. co. uk/sport/football/europa-league/bruno-fernandes-manchester-united-athletic-bilbao-red-card-a9802041. html[3]: https://www. dailymail. co. uk/sport/football/article-11458207/Manchester-United-defender-Daniele-Hourihan-60m-deal-Newcastle-United. html[4]: https://www. Pinterest.com/pin/742956361555525669/
[1] A European League match between Man Utd and Athletic Bilbao saw a controversial red card decision, with Man Utd's captain, Fernandes, debating the rules with a reporter following the game.[2] The VAR review led to Dani Vivian's red card after he impeded Rasmus Hojlund, granting Man Utd a penalty and a 2-0 lead in the match.[3] Fernandes, who converted the penalty and added another goal, dismissed any uproar over the incident as typical post-match banter in European leagues.[4] Despite a controversial handball by Alejandro Garnacho in the lead-up to Vivian's foul, Bilbao manager Valverde expressed dissatisfaction, while Fernandes maintained his focus on the team's exceptional performance throughout the match.
