Roy Keane hails a Manchester United star who showed his ‘brilliant’ in FA Cup win

Paul Scholes – usually never too effusive in his praise – couldn’t believe what he was seeing as a teenager. Mainoo turned the national stadium into his own personal playground as he hailed his midfield partner Sofyan Amrabat for delivering a “first Gattuso”. were proud of.

And when Roy Keane admits he may have got things wrong, that’s a sweeter compliment than any superlative.

Keane had previously suggested that Bruno Fernandes was not the right man to wear the iconic Man United armband. But as he led his team with character and quality on Saturday afternoon – every run of his lungs bringing to mind that stirring piece in the Player’s Tribune that barely left a dry eye among The red devils support – Keane could hardly be happier to have been ‘proved wrong’.

Bruno Fernandes won the Manchester United captaincy at Wembley

“Absolutely amazing. It was a fair performance at Manchester United. They got it, stuck in and played good things in the future as well,” Keane, a four-time FA Cup winner under Sir Alex Ferguson, told ITV Sport.

“I’ve been critical of Bruno over the years and I’m glad to be proven wrong. His leadership was outstanding. I’ve always mentioned how brilliant he is as a player…”

Fernandes’ outstanding assist for Mainoo’s 39th-minute winner was the kind of pass we mere mortals could only dream of. Pep Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference that the Portuguese ‘Magnifico’ is one of the most creative talents he has ever come across in football.

And, on a day when Kevin de Bruyne was substituted early and largely ineffectively – Fernandes played into his teenage team-mate with a pass that few would have seen, let alone managed.

The Portuguese prince assists the winner Kobbie Mainoo

“Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant,” beamed Keane, Fernandes’ wonderful no-look ball the culmination of a fluid, back-to-front move.

“United’s decision-making in possession, when to go long, when to go short. Talk about the two wide players when they have that space, nice quality ball (from Marcus Rashford). You look at Bruno, this play and this ending…

“That’s where his brilliance is. Many players cannot do this. He (Mainoo) gave him the perfect pass. Simple, brilliant, effective, wonderful.”

Fernandes ends another great campaign on a personal level with 15 goals and 13 assists in all competitions.

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