Roy Keane went on an epic rant over the ‘circus act’ of Bruno Fernandes equalling the Premier League assist record, but may owe the Manchester United captain an apology after misquoting him.
Fernandes provided his 20th assist of the Premier League season on Sunday as Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 at Old Trafford.
That saw him go alongside Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne for most assists in a Premier League campaign, with the chance to go ahead of the Arsenal and Manchester City legends on the final day of the season.
There was little on the game against Forest, with Manchester United already having secured Champions League football but unable to climb higher than third in the table.
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After the match, Fernandes said of equalling the assist record: ‘Everyone knew it was important that I could get another assist at least and they’ve been trying everything they can to score from my passes.
‘There was probably moments today that I should have passed instead of shoot but still I took the shot. I’m very happy for the assist but more than that I’m very happy for the win and to finish the season on a high.
‘It’s a privilege and a pleasure for me [to be considered for Premier League Player of the Season]. I want collective awards more than anything but knowing that your job is being recognised by many people, I’m very grateful and I’m very happy with it.’
‘I was cringing with all of them’
Keane was not impressed at all that an individual award was being praised in a season which has seen no silverware for the Red Devils, in fact, they were not anywhere near lifting a trophy.
However, he did misrepresent Fernandes by claiming the Portuguese said he was looking for passes when he should have been shooting.
‘When you’re the captain of the club and you’re supposed to be driving the club forward, do not be getting bogged down by just your role in the team, with just assists,’ Keane said on Stick to Football. ‘What I heard at United at the weekend, honestly, I was raging with it.
‘The whole chat about his assists and players talking about his assists. He got interviewed after the match and the game was about his assists. He said in his interview, the captain of Man United, he said there was a few times I should have shot but I made the passes. Wow. How can your mindset of a footballer be talking about individual records?
‘For it to become the main point of Man United’s performance at the weekend, I was cringing with all of them. All the players when he got the assists, going over to him, what about the guy who scored the goal?’
Keane may have misremembered the interview Fernandes gave, but he will likely stand by his point on individual praise during an unsuccessful time in Manchester United’s history.
‘If you’re on the back of winning stuff and players are getting individual stuff then fantastic,’ said the Irishman. ‘Man United’s priority this weekend was Bruno getting assists. For one player to get bogged down with assists and his team aren’t winning anything, that’s my issue.
‘If they win the league next year and he’s got 20 assists then I’ll say well done Man United and well done Bruno, but that’s a sideshow, that can’t become the main show.
‘The assists became the story of the weekend, how can assists be the story at Man United?’
‘It’s mind-boggling’
The 54-year-old extrapolated the point further, suggesting the reaction to the assist record points to a lack of a winning mentality as a team.
‘He won’t be winning trophies, not with that mindset of the team yesterday where they’re giving up two goals and everyone’s getting all giddy because he’s equalled a record for assists,’ he said. ‘It’s mind-boggling. It’s mind-boggling. It’s a circus act.
‘If you’re a player and you’re not winning trophies but people bring up your stats, you’d be cringing, going, “Forget about my stats! We’ve got to win trophies!”
‘Standards. Imagine us in the dressing room [former Manchester United teams], we’re not competing for any trophies and someone’s talking about assists? You keep that up pal.’