Manchester United architect-in-chief Bruno Fernandes has moved to hit back at those currently criticising him for not finding the net as frequently as he was last season.
The attacking-midfielder, who joined United from Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, netted a very impressive 28 goals in all competitions last season, firmly cementing himself as the club's leading marksman.
Fernandes looked as though he would threaten to retain that title this season after netting a hat-trick in United's 5-1 opening day Premier League victory against Leeds United, but has scored just once in all competitions since.
Having scored just four times in 15 appearances so far this season, Fernandes is beginning to be criticised from some corners for not being as deadly in front of goal.
However, the former Sporting Lisbon man, who will be hoping to get back amongst the goals when United face Manchester City in the Manchester derby on Saturday lunchtime at Old Trafford, has highlighted his assists tally, which currently stands at eight, as being a positive, as well as outlining that he is currently having to adapt to a new role.
Fernandes told Sky Sports: "I’m not scoring goals because I’m missing the goal. It’s easy like that.
"The way we played in the last two games, I’ve played a little deeper, yes, but it’s because we changed system and you have to adapt.
"Everyone was adapting themselves. We have to do what is better for the team. I can still do my game wherever I play.
"I know people are upset because the numbers are going a little bit low – goals are going low but assists are coming up. The importance for people of scoring goals is always better than doing assists or a great game.
"Last season everyone was like, 'he’s scored a lot of goals but he also scores a lot of penalties and he doesn’t perform'.
"Now I perform and give a lot of assists and people say 'he’s not scoring goals'. There will always be a problem."
Having now spent almost two years in the Premier League, the Portuguese star believes United's rivals are now finding a way to deal with him and no longer giving him as much space to work his magic.
Nevertheless, Fernandes still has his sights set on raising the bar and improving.
"I’m never happy with myself," Fernandes added. "I want always to improve and do better.
"Every season I want to do better numbers than before. Playing more games, playing better balls, more assists, more goals. I still want to score goals and to score more goals than last season and I will do my best to reach that level. But it is what it is sometimes.
"The teams know me better and I don’t get the space I got in the beginning because I was someone coming from Portugal and most players didn’t know who Bruno is.
"Now the space is a little bit short for me, the time is a little bit short and I have to improve on that to be quick on shooting and passing and everything to make my game work."
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