Fernandes has been a standout performer for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men this season, having racked up 15 goals and ten assists in 27 Premier League matches.
The Portugal international has been a sensation since joining Manchester United from Sporting CP in January 2020. The 26-year-old has 40 goal involvements in 41 appearances in the Premier for the Red Devils, winning four Player of the Month awards in the process.
Despite his stupendous record at Old Trafford, the former Novara and Udinese man has scored two non-penalties in his last 13 games against the top six teams since his arrival in England.
Ahead of Manchester United’s shot trip across town to face local rivals Manchester City on Sunday, Fernandes has launched a defence of his record against the top tier teams in the division.
Fernandes told Soccer Saturday: "I don't know what people mean by 'top six', because the teams are in top six in the table. I score and assist against some of them. I score this season against Tottenham. But some people say penalties don't count!
"I know people expect Bruno to score or assist in every game because when I arrived, I was playing really well. If you see my stats, everyone is thinking that Bruno has to score in every game, Bruno has to assist in every game.
"And I want to do that - it's the most important thing. But as a player, I don't look for the big six or the rest of the league. I look for every game in the same way. And I think the league is not a sprint, it's a marathon. So you don't have to score or win against the big six - you have to score and win against everyone.
"I see people talking about Bruno not doing so well against the 'big six'. People have said Bruno gives the ball away too many times when we lose a game.
"Also, in the game against Basaksehir, I scored two goals and I lost more balls than their team, but people said I was the best player in the game. So, what is the point?
"But I agree the last two games, I didn't play very well. And I don't need to see the stats to see if I play well or not. I know when I play well or not.
"I saw an interview from Luke (Shaw) saying, 'people now care more about stats than the performance'. And this is the truth. Because now they're expecting from me just goals and assists, and not performances.
"They don't care about the performance of Bruno, they don't care about ball recovery or how many chances I create, because I can create 10 chances but if I don't score, people will say Bruno didn't play very well.
"But this is football. Football is in the moment. Some people have said I'm playing bad, and that I have to do better. And I agree, because we always can do better. But for me, it's OK. I can have that pressure on my back.
