Second half goals from John Stones and Fernandinho saw City edge past United into the final for the second season running.
Fernandes has been arguably Manchester United’s best player since switching from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon a year ago but struggled to get hold of the game against a City who have found their mojo in recent weeks.
The 26-year-old Portugal international has been compared to former United hero Eric Cantona by some pundits recently for his performances but Keane was having none of that and insists Fernandes must start winning trophies with the club to be mentioned in the same breath as the Frenchman.
"It’s not easy, it’s not easy winning football trophies," Keane stated on Sky Sports, while going on to compare the Portuguese midfielder unfavourably with a past Reds idol.
"Fernandes has had great praise and over the past month people have been comparing him to people like Eric Cantona etcetera. But Cantona [won trophies].
"Fernandes didn’t really do much tonight. The top players turn up on the big occasions, and that’s what the Cantona’s used to do to get their hands on trophies. And that’s where this team is a little bit short.
"They’ll probably need one or two more players to come into the squad, no doubt, and the mentality they need – maybe the confidence of winning this semi-final to get them over the line and then you get momentum. And they just didn’t quite have it tonight.
"But credit to City. United were up against an outstanding Manchester City team tonight who turned up and put on a good show."
United are back in action against Watford in the FA Cup this weekend.
