‘If I was him I wouldn’t be happy at all!’: Bruno Fernandes admits sympathy for Manchester United’s struggling midfielder Donny van de Beek over his lack of game time under Solskjaer
- Donny van de Beek has failed to establish himself in the Man United team
- He made a rare start on Sunday against Liverpool but was eventually replaced
- Bruno Fernandes admits he can understand why the midfielder is unhappy
Bruno Fernandes has admitted he can understand Donny van de Beek’s unhappiness at Manchester United over his lack of playing time.
The £40million summer signing was handed just his 10th start of the season on Sunday as United dumped Liverpool out of the FA Cup.
Van de Beek failed to have a significant impact on the match as was eventually hauled off in the 66th minute before United went on to claim a 3-2 victory.
Bruno Fernandes admits sympathy for Donny van de Beek over his lack of game time
Fernandes replaced him on Sunday and struck the winner in the FA Cup against Liverpool
Fernandes was the man who took his place in the second half and proved to be decisive as he scored a free-kick late on to help United progress.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had admitted on the eve of the game that van de Beek was growing frustrated with his role at United and Fernandes admits he sympathises with the Holland star’s situation.
‘Donny had a great game,’ he told MUTV after the match. ‘Playing in the position I play, watching him he moves really good and played really well.
‘It’s important for us. If I was in the position of Donny I would not be happy at all but the most important is doing what he does today, coming in and helping the team.
‘We have a really good squad and we have options. If you look at the bench and the first XI today and the ones at home we have a really good squad.
Fernandes struck a superb free-kick past Alisson to help United claim a 3-2 victory
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has rarely used van de Beek and admitted he is growing frustrated
‘It will not be a problem if we change the team or someone is tired because we have really good players.’
Fernandes has been United’s talisman since joining the club and now has scored 28 goals since his debut last February.
His winner on Sunday set up a fifth-round tie against West Ham, and Fernandes is determined to win silverware this season with United, who are also currently top of the Premier League table.
He added: ‘They’re all important competitions for us,’ he said. ‘We have to go in the same way whatever the competition.
‘We play in them all to win. Everyone knows winning the league is more special but for us players, it’s about winning trophies regardless and this is a trophy we want to win.’
