Pep Guardiola has highlighted the 'outstanding' Bruno Fernandes before Sunday’s Manchester derby, stating that his City team must stop the United captain who can 'always create something'.
Fernandes has faced criticism at different times this season with Roy Keane suggesting he should lose the captain’s armband in October, and Gary Neville questioning whether he truly wanted it initially.
He faced criticism once more after last weekend’s disappointing loss at home to Fulham but responded by assisting Casemiro’s late FA Cup winner against Nottingham Forest midweek.
The Portugal international was uncertain to play in that game but completed the full 90 minutes at the City Ground, maintaining his exceptional record of never missing a game through injury since joining the club in January 2020.
United have only won one of their last six games against their rivals who are in excellent form, with Erling Haaland scoring five goals against Luton Town midweek.
But Guardiola had high praise for United’s captain before the kick-off, believing he can pose significant problems at any moment and emphasizing him as a player his team must silence on Sunday afternoon.
‘He is an exceptional player,’ Guardiola said. ‘Especially the consistency to play in every single game and in every single competition.
‘I admire him a lot for that. He is a guy that when he has the ball, something is going to happen. In set pieces, in connections with players up front with [Alejandro] Garnacho, with Rashford, all the strikers they have up there.
‘What can I say, he is a really, really important player.’
Asked if his team will be working specifically to stop Fernandes’ threat, Guardiola added: ‘Of course, it always has to be like that. Always he can be creating something.’
With City currently performing at a higher level than their rivals, Guardiola was asked if Fernandes and Luke Shaw would be the only United players he would bring into his City squad.
A dismissive Guardiola said: ‘That is football fantasy. I don’t like it.’
