Bruno Fernandes reveals his brutally honest response to Ruben Amorim after Man United manager told him to ‘relax’ more

Bruno Fernandes insisted he will only relax when he dies after another blistering performance – despite Ruben Amorim‘s exhortations for him to calm down.

The Manchester United captain put two goals past Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night as the Red Devils put one foot in the Europa League final with a 3-0 win. 

His relentless form has seen him strike up 37 goal contributions for the season and it is bleak for United fans to imagine where they would be without him.  

An impeccable fitness record means he has scarcely missed a game since signing for £68million from Sporting Lisbon in 2020. 

He revealed after the win in Spain that Amorim has told him to relax but says he will only do that in the grave. 

‘To be honest, I feel the pressure, every penalty. That’s the good thing of football. It’s what we have to enjoy,’ he told TNT Sports. 

Bruno Fernandes says he will only rest when he dies after another brilliant performance

He scored twice as Manchester United beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in Spain in the Europa League

Fernandes says Ruben Amorim has asked him to relax but insists he enjoys carrying pressure

‘When I finish my career, that pressure will go away and I will be much more relaxed. 

‘This is what I say every time the manager and the physio tell me to relax and rest, I say, “no, when I die I will have a lot of time to lie down and rest myself.”

Fernandes’ first goal came from the penalty spot after a highly controversial VAR call. 

United were awarded the spot-kick after Dani Vivian was adjudged to have pulled back Rasmus Hojlund, with the defender being sent off, but the Spanish side protested what they believed was an Alejandro Garnacho handball in the build-up.

Crestfallen Bilbao forward Inaki Williams later said: ‘The play before the penalty comes from a handball by Garnacho, which the referee doesn’t see.

‘It’s a struggle between Vivian and him. At the slightest contact, he goes down, and it’s unfortunate that he called it.’

But United were good value for their win. Casemiro had headed them in front after 30 minutes following some excellent work on the wing by Harry Maguire, and Fernandes added to his penalty with another strike before half-time.    

The penalty was awarded after Rasmus Hojlund was pulled back by Dani Vivian, but the Bilbao defender was sent off after a VAR check  

Bilbao were incensed that defender Dani Vivian was sent off for a pull on Rasmus Hojlund

Casemiro was also on the scoresheet as United put one foot in the Europa League final

United are hoping to reach their first Europa League final since 2021 and, with it, the gates to Champions League football. 

They will likely play Tottenham in an all-England final after Ange Postecoglou’s side beat Bodo/Glimt 3-1 in London, though the Norwegian outfit have been deadly at home in Europe this season and could reverse the tie.

Amorim’s men take a 3-0 lead back to Old Trafford and will consider themselves as being in the driving seat, though nothing is guaranteed.

‘Nobody expected this result but it’s not done,’ said Amorim. ‘The same result can happen at Old Trafford, and we need to be prepared. 

‘There is no away goals (rule) so anything can change and that is my message to the players.

‘I think they have to think about the second leg, and they have to think more about the first 20 minutes than the rest of the game. We struggled a lot at the start but the goal and red card changed the game.’

Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde was angry that Norwegian referee Espen Eskas decided to send off Daniel Vivian for a foul on Rasmus Hojlund and award a penalty converted by Fernandes – even more so because it looked like Alejandro Garnacho had handled in the build-up.

‘It’s been too much of a punishment, not only by the fact that we went 2-0 down but because we had to play with one man down,’ said Valverde.

‘We have challenged a handball by Garnacho, but it’s the ref who needs to referee.’