Erik ten Hag accused Nottingham Forest of targeting Bruno Fernandes in Manchester United’s dramatic FA Cup win at the City Ground, and said recent criticism of his captain is ‘pathetic’.
Fernandes came under fire again following United’s defeat to Fulham at the weekend after footage emerged of him going down heavily under a challenge from Sasa Lukic towards the end of the game and then getting up quickly to demand the ball when he wasn’t awarded a free kick.
But Ten Hag insisted the Portugal star had played through the pain barrier at Forest, and claimed that United’s opponents had singled him out for special treatment with a series of fouls.
Fernandes was a doubt for the game and limped out of the stadium afterwards, which is a worry for United ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby at the Etihad.
‘You saw that Forest were targeting him,’ said Ten Hag.
‘There were many fouls on him. You see when he is getting the ball, they are really tight on him.
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