Bruno Fernandes insisted it did not matter that he was the Portugal hero during their World Cup qualifying win over North Macedonia on Tuesday night. Two goals from the Manchester United playmaker guided Portugal to the Qatar finals with a 2-0 victory at the Estadio do Dragao.
Combining with United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo for his opener, Fernandes settled the tie in Porto with his seventh and eighth international goals. The 27-year-old has also scored nine times in the Premier League for United this season as they continue to target Champions League qualification.
His efforts mean Portugal can book their flights to Qatar after easing past Turkey and North Macedonia in two back to back play-off games over the March break. Fernandes started both matches.
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However, while the United sensation naturally took the headlines and plaudits for his goals, he said that couldn't have been further from his thinking. Portugal were 2-0 winners in Porto last night after they earned a 3-1 win against Turkey at the same venue on Sunday night.
Speaking to Portuguese newspaper Expresso after the North Macedonia win, Fernandes said: "It [scoring] doesn't matter, the important thing is to help the team, in any way. I'm not here to score goals, but to help the team. If you can [help] with goals, all the pleasure.
"Any of us likes to score goals. But the main focus is to help the team and that's what I did.
"Then it's up to each one to criticise and [have] opinions, but I stick with my idea and with the manager's ideas. I've had this continuity in the selection, because I do what the manager asks of me."
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