(Reuters) – Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United has downplayed comparisons with Eric Cantona after he began a methetric career at Old Trafford, insisting that he needed trophies on his CV before beginning to succeed in French status.
Fernandes has had an instant effect since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in January, scoring 11 goals and placing 8 to send United to 3rd place in the semi-finals of the Premier League and Europa League.
Its effect has been compared through former United players to Cantona, who joined Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man United from Leeds United midway through the 1992–93 season and helped finish his 26-year wait for a league title.
“It’s smart for me to pay attention to that and be discussed alongside those names,” Fernandes, 25, said to the club’s online page on Saturday. “For me, Cantona was a wonderful player for the club and I have to do much more wonderful to be compared to him.
“I’m happy with what I did, but I’m not happy like the coach said.”
United will face Sevilla in the last four Europa League matches on Sunday in hopes of luck for the third time after falling in the League Cup semi-final in Manchester City and the FA Cup in Chelsea.
“To come to Manchester is to win trophies. I will be satisfied at the end of this season of having one, if we win the Europa League,” the Portuguese midfielder added.
Reporting through Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing through Simon Cameron-Moore
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