Ten Hag explains Bruno Fernandes role as Man United close in on Champions League

Erik ten Hag and Bruno Fernandes during Manchester United's FA Cup tie against Reading at Old Trafford in January 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has explained why he played Bruno Fernandes on the right against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Portugal midfielder scored the only goal of the game at Old Trafford as United defended resolutely to win all three points against Unai Emery's side. 

"Bruno had another great game," Ten Hag said after the game. "The plan was to play him from the right to make runs behind and he did that so well. I think our plan worked very well.

"He can play several roles. You need players like Bruno to be successful. Against Everton he can play from a deeper role, from the side he's a very good presser, he understands the moment when to close down, when to put an opponent into trouble."

"We look from game to game and next we have Brighton [on Thursday] so we need to work hard again. We need to show passion again and not worry about the table," Ten Hag said.

"We are totally in control [in the race for the top four], it's all about us and it's in our hands."

Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.