Solskjaer defends Bruno Fernandes taking penalty over Cristiano Ronaldo

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has defended his decision to let Bruno Fernandes rather than Cristiano Ronaldo take a stoppage-time penalty during the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

Fernandes rarely misses from the spot but today it wasn’t to be as he skied his effort way over the bar to squander the chance to salvage a point for United.

United need to bounce back soon after losing three of their last four matches. That is not good enough and we will be playing catch up if our form doesn’t improve.

I don’t have a problem with Fernandes taking responsibility for the penalty – it’s one of his roles and I don’t think Ronaldo’s arrival should change that. Unfortunately for everyone who loves United, he missed for just the second time in 23 attempts.

“That is football,” Solskjaer said, as per ESPN. “He will step forward every day of the week for the club and the team and sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. It is such a fine line between heaven and hell.”

The manager also played down suggestions Cristiano Ronaldo appeared unhappy with the decision to allow Fernandes take the spot kick.

“This is going to be the headline,” Solskjaer added. “Bruno has been excellent and Cristiano is probably the one who has scored the most penalties in world football.

“It is just a missed opportunity to get a point. You will be making all these assumptions on the reactions of players. Bruno is such a good penalty taker and you would back him with your mortgage.”

More Stories Bruno Fernandes Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

16 Comments

  1. Ole your quality stars lost today are you going to drop them? Sad the team blasted against west ham were better than today’s team. No excuss ole you lack quality.

    1. What do you know? Can you do what Ole is doing or better than him? Stop playing down people’s effort to do well, rather encourage them and do not castigate people for what you can not do.
      I stand with Ole Solskjaer and the team and always I do
      They shall come back on top

  2. Ole lacks the mentality to move the team so the owners any to look for a better coach rather than continuing with him

  3. What do you know? Can you do what Ole is doing or better than him? Stop playing down people’s effort to do well, rather encourage them and do not castigate people for what you can not do.
    I stand with Ole Solskjaer and the team and always I do
    They shall come back on top

  4. I really don’t understand solksjaer,so rude for a coach and doesn’t admits he is wrong in selections I wonder how he can learn, a team you have Cristiano and you leave set pieces at crucial moments to another, no brainer there..OLE OUT …

  5. Ole is just hear to defend his team as he always does. Too much dependent on some players is killing the game at united. Lingard is far more experience player than Greenwood and Ole also left Cavani out. Van de beek has played the role of DM better than Fred. Rock your boat Ole if you can’t see the difference

  6. Indeed wrong timing , such a situation it needed cr7 to take it,despite Bruno being good .in an extra time,yet a star was around. Its high time,the role of penalty taking ,should be reversed to cr7

  7. This is football,a round ball that difficult to be kicking one spot only whole 90minutes,you will have to kick difference spots, it was not written for us to win those 3points,i was really hurt after Fernandez missed that penalty, at the end it’s a team work we all lost not Fernandez only,if he scored we would be praising him, CR7 missed also maybe he wouldn’t score as it’s written for that day loss “forward we go backwards we don’t❤️” much love to all Man U supporters and the team

  8. Ole is not competent..He lacks Composure.CR 7 takes all the penalty and most set piece for Portugal..Bruno should have given him that respect ..Assuming the penalty was caused by Ronaldo,would Bruno still come and hold the ball to take the penalty?There are some things you can’t just fight..

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