Bruno Fernandes has opened up on talk that he and Manchester United teammate Paul Pogba cannot function together in the same team.
Fernandes has been a revelation for Manchester United since his January arrival from Sporting CP, providing 16 goals and 12 assists in 30 appearances across all competitions.
But while the 27-year-old has thrived in the Red Devils midfield, Paul Pogba has spent the bulk of his time sidelined. And even when the Frenchman has been available, he’s struggled to bring his A-game. In fact, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has benched him in the club’s last two league fixtures.
It’s only fueled speculation that Pogba cannot play to the best of his ability alongside Fernandes at Old Trafford.
* Fernandes vs Pogba: 2019/20 Premier League stats below.
But Bruno thinks otherwise and suggests the pair could lift United to another level.
“It’s always a pleasure being in a team with him because I can learn a lot from him, and he can learn a lot from me,” he told Sky Sports. “Together we can do great things.
“We have a good relationship, of course. We both speak Italian so most of the time we speak Italian. I have a good relationship with him on and off the pitch.
“He’s a funny guy, he always wants to joke. I know him from Italy already but now I have the chance to be in a team with a World Cup winner.”
In response to talk of Pogba’s alleged poor attitude, Fernandes said: “Paul wants to play, he wants to be in the first XI, that is no different to any player – they all want to be in the first XI.
“Of course Paul is an amazing player who has done a lot of great things in the past few years. The way he came in against Paris Saint-Germain, against Newcastle, was perfect for the team.
“A lot of people may think Paul is angry on the bench and that he will do nothing when he comes on because he is angry, but he comes in with the right motivation, as we saw with his assist in Paris.
“Being on the bench is a problem for everyone, but this problem is motivation for Paul. He uses this as motivation and he is helping the team a lot when he comes in and plays, like he did in the last game in the Champions League.”
Fernandes and Pogba could start in United’s Premier League showdown with Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday evening.
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