Manchester United Star Receives Retake By VAR, Scores In 1st Match As Captain [Watch]

Bruno Fernandes, who did not expect to lead Manchester United in the absence of Harry Maguire, was given the captain’s armband before he scored in his side’s 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the 2020-21 Champions League Tuesday.

Fernandes scored Manchester United’s first goal of the match before an own goal from Anthony Martial leveled at scores at 1-1. Marcus Rashford became Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s savior by netting the 87th-minute winner.

Man Utd’s star penalty taker Fernandes has now missed two strikes in a span of four days. After failing to convert from the spot in Man United's 4-1 win over Newcastle United this weekend, the Portuguese midfielder saw his attempt saved by PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas Tuesday night. However, this time, the 26-year-old was awarded a lifeline after Navas was caught coming too far off the line. The VAR offered Fernandes a retake, which was put at the back of the net by Man Utd’s stand-in-skipper.

Fernandes now has scored 16 goals in 28 competitive appearances for Man Utd, including four goals in six games in the underway 2020-21 season. Fernandes, who netted three goals in five Champions League matches last campaign, has continued to impress as a Red Devil since his 2019 January arrival to Old Trafford.

On the eve of Man Utd’s PSG clash in the Champions League, the press conference featured Fernandes and Solskjaer. When the Man Utd boss was asked about the captain since Maguire was out due to an injury, Solskjaer replied, "The captain sits next to me. Bruno will captain the team tomorrow."

Reacting to the announcement, which had turned out to be a surprise for the player himself, Fernandes said, "I was not expecting this, I have found out the same time as you! For me it’s an honor, I will be captain for my teammates and to be captain of Manchester United is an important achievement for me. But I think everyone is the captain."

The former Sporting midfielder went on to add that everyone needed to help and be a leader in their own way as leadership is different in every player. "Tomorrow will not be about me but the team. Leading is every day in the training ground, every game and everyone is doing their job to lead the team in the way they think is best," Fernandes had said before Man Utd’s 2-1 win over PSG.