Premier League
Fernandes 'very proud' of assist record
Bruno Fernandes joked he was unsure Patrick Dorgu would be able to execute his part of the set-piece that helped the Portuguese star break the Premier League's single-season assist record.… Show More
Bruno Fernandes joked he was unsure Patrick Dorgu would be able to execute his part of the set-piece that helped the Portuguese star break the Premier League's single-season assist record.
Manchester United captain Fernandes provided a 21st assist of the campaign when his 33rd-minute corner was met by a header from Dorgu in a 3-0 win at Brighton.
Fernandes now stands alone above Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, who both achieved 20, to entrench himself in Premier League history.
But the Portugal international said he owed it to Red Devils coach Jonny Evans, because he himself was not entirely convinced Dorgu would put the header away.
"It's great [breaking the assists record]. I feel very happy for that. It's a very proud moment, obviously it is not something I would dream or think about until I got this close," he said.
"Today I was lucky enough to get that. Jonny [Evans] believed more than me in that set-piece we prepared for Patrick because I was not so sure he would be able to score with his head. I got my assist but the main thing is we won today and finished very strong."
Fernandes created the most chances in the game (four) and the most overall in the season (136).
He also scored United's third goal early in the second half, after Bryan Mbeumo had doubled the lead from a team move.
Fernandes has scored and assisted in 19 Premier League games for Manchester United – only Wayne Rooney (35) and Ryan Giggs (22) have done so more often.
"It was already special being in their [Henry and De Bruyne's] company. We are talking about two players that made the Premier League so great, and they were two of the greatest in the Premier League," Fernandes, who was named Premier League Player of the Year, said.
"My style of playing has always been the same. Creation has not been something that has changed or improved. The biggest difference is my team-mates have scored more goals than before, and I get the credit for that."
Michael Carrick, newly appointed as United's permanent manager, said of Fernandes's achievement: "It's what he's done so often.
"The creating and scoring of goals is what he has that gift for. He has a natural instinct for creation and he did it again today."
Carrick took over as interim boss from Ruben Amorim in January with United languishing in sixth, and out of both domestic cup competitions.
A strong end to the season saw United finish third, and Carrick says the club must now look to kick on again.
"We were aiming high, you have to here. We wanted to finish as high as we could," Carrick said. "Big credit to the players for how consistent they've been and level of performance. It gives us a platform to build on for next season."
