September 26, (THEWILL) – Bruno Fernades has taken responsibility for failing to convert the late-game penalty that would have won Manchester United a point in their 1-0 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Fernades had on Saturday penned a statement where he admitted he “failed”, has learnt from the experience, and is thankful for the support he has got since the incident.
Since the final whistle, the penalty miss has been the main talking point of the game on online and offline platforms, with many wondering why Cristiano Ronaldo did not take the penalty.
In the statement, Fernades insisted this experience will “drive him on”.
Fernandes wrote: “Nobody is more frustrated and disappointed than me for missing the penalty and the consequent defeat. I’ve always assumed my responsibilities and I’ve always embraced them under pressure in moments like this.
“Today, I failed. But I took a step forward and faced the challenge with the same ambition and responsibility as when, on the many other occasions, the ball ended up in the net. Criticism and contrasting opinions are a big part of football.
“I’ve learned to live with it, even using them to drive me on, and I consider it all a very important part of my commitment to never stop trying to improve and to become the best player I can possibly be, for me and the team. Today I once again took the responsibility given to me almost since I joined United and I will take it again without any fear or dread whenever called upon.
“The most important thing for me is to win together and I’ll always do everything I can to help my teammates and the club to be the best we can be. I’m a player who leaves everything on the pitch, with great desire and commitment. And that’s what I’ll continue to do.
“Thank you for all your support after the final whistle! Hearing you chanting my name in the stadium was very emotional… I will come back stronger for me, because these are the standards I hold myself to, but most of all for my teammates and our fans who have always supported us”.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
