Bruno Fernandes explained how referee ‘triggered’ him prior to penalty miss against Fulham

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has finally spoken out about the incident that led to his shocking penalty miss against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon.

The Portuguese playmaker had the perfect opportunity to open his account for the new Premier League season when VAR intervened to penalise Calvin Bassey for a clumsy foul on Mason Mount inside the box. United fans expected Fernandes, usually one of the most reliable penalty takers in Europe, to dispatch the ball with his trademark composure. Instead, to everyone’s surprise, his strike flew over the bar and into the stands.

It was only the fifth time Fernandes has failed from the spot since joining Manchester United in 2020, a record that still highlights his consistency but made this miss all the more unusual. The frustration was compounded as the match eventually ended 1-1, with Rodrigo Muniz’s own goal cancelled out by Emile Smith Rowe’s equaliser for Fulham.

On Sky Sports commentary, former United captain Gary Neville noted something odd before the penalty was taken. He pointed out that referee Chris Kavanagh appeared to bump into Fernandes just before the whistle blew, suggesting that the contact may have “unnerved” him at the crucial moment. Fernandes was visibly irritated by the referee’s lack of acknowledgement of the incident.

Speaking after the game, Fernandes admitted that the referee’s actions had indeed unsettled him, though he was quick to take responsibility for the miss. “Yeah, I was upset,” he revealed. “As a penalty taker, you always have your own routine and rhythm. When something interrupts that, it can throw you off. The referee didn’t apologise and that triggered me a bit. But at the end of the day, there’s no excuse. I just hit the ball badly.”

The 29-year-old explained that he struck underneath the ball, causing it to lift far too high. “I put my foot too much under it, and that’s why it went over. Simple as that,” Fernandes said. “I take the blame because I should have done better.”

Despite the miss, Fernandes’ overall record remains impressive. Since joining Manchester United, he has converted 22 penalties, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s most dependable takers. His previous miss had come in December 2023 against Chelsea, making this failure a rare blemish on an otherwise stellar record from the spot.

United manager Ruben Amorim also addressed the incident after the match. While dismissing the idea that the referee was to blame, Amorim hinted that Fernandes’ body language during the game revealed the weight of responsibility he carries as captain. “Bruno is not used to missing penalties, and he knows how important those moments are. I felt during the game that he wasn’t so happy, not so involved, because he carries so much responsibility for this team,” Amorim explained.

The coach admitted that Fernandes’ miss was a huge blow to the side, particularly as it could have secured a crucial victory early in the season. “It was huge for us, no doubt. But these things happen. He is our captain and our leader, and I know he will bounce back stronger,” Amorim said.

The drama surrounding Fernandes’ penalty has sparked plenty of debate among pundits and supporters alike. Some believe the referee’s accidental contact clearly disrupted his focus, while others argue that the midfielder’s admission of poor technique settles the issue. Either way, United’s inability to convert the chance cost them two valuable points in their push for the top four.

Manchester United will now turn their attention to the Carabao Cup, where they face Grimsby Town in midweek before returning to Premier League action against Burnley at Old Trafford on August 30. For Fernandes, the priority will be to put the disappointment behind him quickly and prove once again why he has been trusted with so much responsibility at the club