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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explains how benching Bruno Fernandes led to match-winning free kick vs Liverpool
Speaking after the 3-2 FA Cup win (h/t Independent.ie), Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suggested that leaving Bruno Fernandes on the bench against Liverpool inspired his match-winning free-kick.
United faced Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring for the Reds, but goals from Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford put the Red Devils in the lead.
The Reds equalised around the hour mark through Salah. With the scoreline at 2-2, Fernandes made his way on to the pitch. Shortly after, a foul on Edinon Cavani got us a free-kick close to the box.
Fernandes stepped up to take the set-piece. He placed it perfectly to the opposite side of the wall and beat Alisson with power and precision.
That goal meant United had their first win against Liverpool under Solskjaer. And the Norwegian revealed how Fernandes had extra time to practice free kicks the day before.
“He’s got that quality in and around the box. He’s proven to give players assists or score goals.”
The manager added that Fernandes is not allowed to practice free-kicks a lot when he’s starting the next day. However, the Portuguese being benched meant he had extra time for practising set-pieces.
“Yesterday he was told that he wasn’t playing so he stayed out practising for half an hour, 45 minutes. I don’t know how long but it worked and it paid off.”
More Manchester United News:
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It really did pay off. Beating a world-class goalkeeper like Alisson Becker takes serious skill and practice, and Fernandes’ shot was near unsavable.
League leaders United now face Sheffield United on Wednesday night. The team is in good form and would be hoping for all three points against the bottom-placed side.
