Bruno Fernandes dismissed the notion that he cannot start alongside Donny van de Beek in Manchester United’s midfield after the club’s comeback against Southampton last weekend.
Van de Beek joined United for £35m from Ajax in the summer but has found opportunities limited under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with Fernandes the clear favourite in the No 10 position.
Afforded his first Premier League start on Sunday, though, Van de Beek impressed in a central midfield role as substitute Edinson Cavani inspired United to victory.
"Every midfielder in our team has quality," Fernandes said afterwards. "Donny has a lot of quality. We know we can play together and also with other players we have. Everyone has quality to play and we know each other. We can play with three today then switch and play the next game with another three or another four.
"It doesn't matter because all of them have quality and we can all be together on the pitch, everyone can make a difference. Donny today played a really good game but Fred and [Nemanja Matic] were really important to us.
"They worked and they worked and they were two players who calmed down the game and moved the ball. In the second half that was crucial and they recovered a lot of balls and they ran a lot.
"We have to score first now! And now suffer like we suffer every game away! As I said before the team spirit today was unbelievable.
"I think, and I keep saying, the first half was good but we conceded two goals. We created some chances, the keeper made two big saves.
"Of course in the second half we scored the goals and maybe everyone says it was two teams in two halves, no, the team was perfect.
"We conceded two goals but I think the level was high in both halves and of course we scored in the second half which was better for us because we went from two goals down to 3-2."
