Bruno Fernandes was bizarrely critical of Aston Villa seemingly trying to make a fourth substitution during their 2-2 draw against Manchester United on Saturday evening, as he told Sky Sports.
Emiliano Buendia suffered an injury in stoppage-time, and despite the Manchester United player being told by the doctors ‘it was a problem with his head’ and not his shoulder, Fernandes questioned why they were trying to make a fourth substitution.
It also needs to be remembered that Villa only made three substitutions, so why Fernandes still had a problem with it after the game is pretty odd.
Plus, if Villa were trying to make a fourth sub, then it was possibly because they were checking whether or not Buendia had been concussed given his head injury, which Fernandes was told by the doctors.
Either way, Fernandes’s brace was cancelled out by a brilliant Jacob Ramsey goal in front of the Holte-End, before Philippe Coutinho had a debut to remember.
This is what Fernandes had to say regarding his complaining at the full-time whistle yesterday.
“At the end of the game, I was just asking the referee why they were making the fourth sub when Buendia was injured on his shoulder,” said Fernandes.
“I think the doctor told me that ‘it was a problem with his head’ when the doctor said, ‘they have to make a change’.
“Come on! A player comes off with a shoulder (injury) and they want to give another sub. This can’t happen.
“I understand the referee has to follow the rules and if the doctor says that then he has to make the sub. But it was the only argument. I was asking why.”
Man United will be kicking themselves that they didn’t walk away from their favourite hunting ground with all three points.
There is no doubt that Villa gifted them the goals, especially an out-of-character moment from Emiliano Martinez.
But the character Villa showed in the second half, and after 2-0, was very, very encouraging by those in Claret and Blue.
Coutinho may steal the limelight for obvious reasons, but someone like Buendia possibly had his best game in a Villa shirt, alongside Morgan Sanson, whilst Ramsey was one of the best players on the pitch in the second half.
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