Bruno Fernandes was Manchester United's best player against Tottenham (Image: dailymail.co.uk)
In his column for the Daily Mail, Jamie Redknapp has advised developing midfielders to watch Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes anytime he plays for the Red Devil's so as to see and understand what it means to be a good midfielder.
Jamie Redknapp was a former footballer, now a Sky Sports pundit (Image: 90min)
Jamie Redknapp who is a pundit at Sky Sports and also a sports columnist at the Daily Mail, gave his admiration for the United midfielder, using him as a point of reference to highlight the qualities a proper midfielder must have.
Excerpts from his column, he wrote:
"My advice to any young, aspiring midfielders out there would be to study Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes."
The former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur creative midfielder went further to paint an imaginative picture of the technique behind the Red Devil's January signing shooting prowess from a distance.
"Look at how he strikes the ball when shooting from distance. Look at how he creates such a dip and swerve that it makes his shots more difficult to stop.
It is not conventional, and it is not a fluke. It is done by design in order to bamboozle the goalkeeper."
Young midfielders should watch Man United's Bruno Fernandes for tips on how to improve
Manchester United had clashed with Tottenham Hotspur last Friday night as both teams looked to finish the season in the top four spot as the season winds down to ensure Champions League football next season.
Steven Bergwijn put the home team ahead before the half-time break after making a dashing run from a counter attack initiated by a loose ball from Rashford, smashing the ball into the net with a helpless David De Gea in goal. Bruno Fernandes restored parity from the penalty spot to tie the game at 1-1 after Paul Pogba was fouled inside the box by Eric Dier.
Bruno Fernandes celebrates after levelling from the penalty spot for Manchester United against Spurs (Image: Getty Images)
Highlighting the Portuguese International overall performance on the night, Jamie Redknapp wrote:
"We saw that (performance) against Tottenham on Friday, when he was the best player on the pitch for United.
"The instant Fernandes gets the ball, he does not delay and he does not look sideways, either. He instead looks at how he can create an immediate goalscoring opportunity or, even better, shoot himself."
Jamie Redknapp's son (Charles William "Charley" Redknapp) who is an aspiring professional footballer also got a word of advice from his father in his column.
"I've told my boy to watch how Fernandes only needs half a yard to shoot from whatever angle.
"Frank Lampard was the same, and that is largely why the now Chelsea manager holds the record as the top-scoring midfielder in Premier League history."
"It comes with a lot of practice and repetition on the training pitch. Half a yard, shoot. Half a yard, shoot. Half a yard, shoot."
(Image: Planet Football)
He concluded by saying Bruno Fernandes desire for shooting the ball from a distance might be frustrating for the attackers in the team but the goal returns from those shots will make up for those frustrating moments.
"It might frustrate your forwards on game day. Maybe there will be times when Marcus Rashford says he was in a better position and should have been played in. Maybe Fernandes will be accused of greediness on the odd occasion.
But it will be worth it for his goal return. In 2018-19, Fernandes' last full season for Sporting Lisbon, he got 32 goals and 18 assists in 53 games. That is what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants from him now."
Manchester United play Sheffield United at Old Trafford on Wednesday night for the 31st league tie of the season, and will hope to secure maximum points to relieve themselves of the disappointing draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
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