'I only scored 10 goals and people start complaining' - Bruno Fernandes defends role at Manchester United

Bruno Fernandes has defended his place in the Manchester United team following the signing of Christian Eriksen.

Fernandes joined United in January 2020 and won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award in his first two seasons, scoring 40 goals and claiming 25 assists.

The Portuguese recorded respectable numbers last term but his performance level was widely criticised and the arrival of fellow playmaker Eriksen has provided Fernandes with fresh competition.

Also read: United players in the dark over Ronaldo's future

Fernandes renewed his contract with United by a year in April and has received a squad number upgrade to eight, while the 27-year-old is one of seven players to have started all three games on the pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.

Under new manager Erik ten Hag, Fernandes has been noticeably more economical with the ball when his risk-taking often results in him ceding possession. When asked if he had to "tweak" his game, Fernandes misheard and replied: "What do you mean 'weak' my game?

"He (Ten Hag) wants me to do assists anyway, so I have to try it! I don't understand that type of question of keeping the ball or whatever it is.

"I keep the ball when I think I have to keep it, I try a pass when I think I have to do it and sometimes it goes good, sometimes wrong. Obviously, when it goes wrong, I know that shouldn't be the one, but sometimes when you play in the 10 position you have only a few seconds to think and control the ball and make the pass, so it's not that much time to think.

"I understand of course, that someone has his own opinion, but when I arrived in 2020 I was losing the same amount of balls in those six months and then the year after I lost the same amount of balls, but I scored