Roy Keane is NOT surprised to see Portugal drop Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes for crunch Euro 2020 clash with Belgium… as Ian Wright says the playmaker has ‘no energy’ after gruelling Old Trafford campaign
Roy Keane has lambasted Bruno Fernandes‘ performances for Portugal at Euro 2020, saying he isn’t surprised that the Manchester United star has dropped to the bench for the round-of-16 clash with Belgium.
Fernandes has struggled to replicate his Old Trafford form for his country at the tournament, and has been so overshadowed by other team-mates that he has gone from being a first-team player to a substitute.
In the three group games, Fernandes managed a total of two attempts on goal, with no assists or tackles at Euro 2020 so far.
Roy Keane said he isn’t surprised Bruno Fernandes is not starting for Portugal against Belgium
All this makes it clear to Keane why he is no longer in the starting 11.
Asked on ITV if he was surprised at Fernandes being left out against Belgium, Keane said: ‘No not really because they’ve got other options. He’s not been in top form during the tournament, his body language is not great and he’s not performed.’
Fellow pundit Ian Wright agreed with Keane’s assessment, saying the United talisman was such an ever-present for his club that he looks heavily fatigued at Euro 2020.
Renato Sanches has come into the team at Fernandes’ expense and has been much better
‘With the amount of games he played last season, it seems like he’s got no energy. I remember watching him in the season and can’t understand how he played that many games.
‘It was a case of tiredness and now they’ve brought Renato Sanches in.’
Wright compared the declining fortunes of Fernandes to the triumphant return of Kevin De Bruyne for Belgium.
Ian Wright said Kevin De Bruyne was unstoppable, while Keane said he looked fresh after injury
The Manchester City star was injured at the beginning of Belgium’s Euro 2020 campaign, but has continued his imperious club form despite the short lay-off.
‘With De Bruyne coming back in after one game with injury and what he’s capable of doing, he’s one of those players you cannot cater for because of his skillset,’ Wright said. ‘You can’t stop him.’
Keane suggested the injury break, which was the result of a fractured eye socket from a collision with Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger, may have worked in his favour because ‘he looks fresh and he’s a world class player’.
