Bruno Fernandes’s view on penalties becoming common in modern game

Since football resumed after lockdown, spot-kicks have featured in most United matches. Not only did Bruno Fernandes score one in our first game back, at Tottenham, we were also awarded a second late on, only for the decision to be overturned by VAR as Marcus Rashford prepared to step up to win the game.

There was a three-match run without one but Rashford scored from the spot against Bournemouth, who converted their own through former Red Joshua King during United’s 5-2 win. Fernandes then opened the scoring at Aston Villa from 12 yards after an award that continues to be deemed to be controversial, even if it went through the standard VAR check.

Two matches followed without one before Bruno struck a consolation penalty at Wembley in the Emirates FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea, and Michail Antonio netted a spot-kick for West Ham in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. 

Bruno kept his cool to beat Kasper Scheichel in the crunch final-day Premier League encounter with Leicester City and, after the job in the Europa League was completed against LASK, he kept it up in Germany as the tournament continued, with both our goals coming from his penalties (against FC Copenhagen and Sevilla).