article-image

Fernandes claims 'rules are applied differently for everyone' after Man United defeat

2
0
Clock Icon3 HoursFootball

Bruno Fernandes claimed "rules are applied differently for everyone" in the Premier League following Manchester United's defeat to Leeds United on Monday.

Leeds claimed a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford, their first away win against United in the league since February 1981.

Noah Okafor scored twice in the first half for Leeds before Casemiro headed in from Bruno Fernandes' cross in the 69th minute, though that was after Lisandro Martinez was shown a red card for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair.

It was United's sixth red card in the Premier League since the start of last season, with only Chelsea (nine) receiving more in that time. 

Fernandes protested to the referee throughout the encounter, leading to a booking for dissent in the second half.

The Red Devils also saw Harry Maguire receive a red card in their previous match against Bournemouth, and Fernandes was bemused by the officiating on Monday.

"I'm not talking about the referee," Fernandes told Sky Sports after the loss.

"If I talk about the referee I'm going to get in very big trouble because the rules are applied differently for everyone.

"You can see it also in the yellow cards. It's better that I don't say anything."

Fernandes has recorded 25 goal involvements in the Premier League this season (eight goals, 17 assists), the most by a United player since himself in 2020-21 (30).

Only Wayne Rooney (five times) has recorded 25+ goal involvements in more different seasons for the club in the competition.

United remain in third, level on points with Aston Villa and three ahead of Liverpool, and Fernandes acknowledged the race for the Champions League spots is still in their hands.

"It doesn't change anything that we want to achieve," added the United captain.

"We know that our aim is to stay in the top four. It's in our hands, we have to win our games, if we do that we'll be in the position we want to be in at the end of the season."