Man United’s Fernandes on penalty issues: ‘Need to study better’

By Author On Oct 11, 2025

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has acknowledged his need to improve his penalty-taking after missing two penalties this Premier League season but remains confident and motivated by the pressure of playing for the club. The Portuguese midfielder missed crucial spot-kicks in recent matches against Fulham and Brentford, contributing to a challenging start for United, who currently sit 10th in the league.

Fernandes has missed two of his three penalty attempts this season, including a key save by Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher on September 27. Speaking at a news conference, Fernandes said, “This season, out of three penalties, I ended up missing two. I don’t want to miss any of them. It’s something I need to study better. I’ll always do it with full conviction because there’s a coach who trusts me.” When asked about facing Kelleher again during Portugal’s upcoming match against the Republic of Ireland, Fernandes remained composed, emphasizing team success over individual rivalries.

United have endured a difficult campaign, following a 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season — their worst since 1974 — and a Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Despite this, Fernandes stressed his commitment to Manchester United, stating he rejected a move to Al Hilal in the summer to remain at Old Trafford.

Manager Rúben Amorim has deployed Fernandes in a deeper midfield role this season, a departure from his preferred No. 10 position. Fernandes, however, expressed his willingness to adapt for the good of the team. “I like playing football, regardless of the position, I’ll do my best,” he said. “When I play as a No. 10, the goal is to create plays, to finish. I adapt to the team game. The most important thing is to win, I want to play my best.”