Erik ten Hag believes Nottingham Forest players were purposely targeting Bruno Fernandes throughout tonight’s tightly contested FA Cup clash.
It was up in the air whether the club captain would be named on the teamsheet prior to kick-off after Ten Hag revealed yesterday that he was a doubt to play.
Alas, Fernandes continued his remarkable streak of never missing a United game through injury when he was included in the starting line-up for the fifth-round contest. Not only did he play the full 90, he also helped prevent the tie from going to extra-time and penalties by assisting Casemiro’s 89th-minute header through an inch-perfect free-kick into the area.
There were numerous times across the evening when the Portugal international could be spotted limping or tending to a potential injury, and his manager believes there’s a reason for that.
“You saw that Forest was targeting him [Fernandes]. I won’t tell you what he has but it was a serious injury and then when I see that the media criticise him, also on social media, that is pathetic. There were many fouls on him.”
"Forest were deliberately targeting him!" 😤
Erik ten Hag FUMES at the treatment of captain Bruno Fernandes and brands media criticism 'pathetic' 😳
🔗 https://t.co/EnZRtpMZJ5 pic.twitter.com/hJE6Kk9mm8
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) February 28, 2024
Footage courtesy of Hayters TV.
