Bruno Fernandes has admitted he has tried to create goals more than score them for Manchester United, despite his record of 12 strikes for the Old Trafford club.
Many of Fernandes' goals have come from the penalty spot, but he has also gained a reputation as a key creative player in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team.
He has now opened up on the role he plays in Solskjaer's side, which has brought him eight assists on top of the 12 goals.
“I think it’s the same because it’s always a goal for the team,” Fernandes told United's website when asked if he prefers scoring or assisting. "You need to look for the team.
“Of course, some players will say ‘I prefer an assist rather than a goal’, but I think it’s not about this because you play to win games. If your team scores, it doesn’t matter if you score or do an assist, it’s a goal.
“It’s important to be in the goals, whether it’s doing assists or scoring, so, for me, it’s the same.
“Of course, I enjoy assisting my team-mates because playing no.10 is the position you have to serve your team-mates.
“Sometimes, I look too much for them when I have the chance to shoot but I try always to serve them, because, normally, the strikers are there to score. For their confidence, scoring is important.
“A no.10 doesn’t need to score a lot to be confident. For them, it’s important.
“Since I arrived in Manchester, I try to serve more than score – but I have more goals than assists. That’s true."
Fernandes explained that Solskjaer has instructed him to sometimes refrain from making runs and instead dictate United's play. The Portuguese has become renowned for his exceptional work rate at Old Trafford, as well as his record of goals and assists.
He added: “I talk already with the manager and he says to me a lot of times ‘sometimes you do so many runs and some runs aren’t for you – you need to shout someone else to run, because after you are tired and, when you take the ball, you will not be fresh.'
"But it’s instinct, it’s part of my game. I can’t control this. I’m like this and I want to help the team every time.
“In the game, you don’t think, you just run. For me, that’s enough.
“I think the most important thing is to help the team and if you help the team it’s okay.”
