Mourinho slams Portugal star ‘on pitch but not playing’

Will Ford

Jose Mourinho says “Bruno Fernandes was on the pitch but not playing” in Portugal’s opening two games of Euro 2020.

Fernandes has enjoyed a sensational season for Manchester United but has failed to replicate in this summer’s international tournament.

And Mourinho claims his country have been effectively been playing with ten players, such has been the drop off in performance level of the United star.


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Mourinho told talkSPORT: “Portugal at its highest level can beat anyone.

“But we need to play with eleven players, in these two matches Bruno Fernandes was on the pitch but not playing.

“I hope he turns up against France, because he’s a player with incredible potential.

“He can pass, he can score. He can get penalties, he can score penalties, he can score free-kicks.

“He has a lot to give, but the reality is in these two matches he was not there.

“Portugal has three fantastic attacking players, Bernardo Silva, Cristiano and Jota.

“We need that connection, but until now Bruno is not playing.”

Graeme Souness has also not been impressed by Fernandes thus far.

And the pundit claims the 26-year-old’s histrionics are not helping his teammates.

“He’s an exceptionally talented boy, there is so much to like about him. A great striker of the ball, when he shoots he makes the goalkeeper work,” he told ITV Sport.

“I played with players that would not be accepting of the thing you just touched on [petulance], you know he doesn’t get the ball and he is waving his hands around.

“He would not have lasted more than five minutes in my dressing room, but he is a wonderful, talented boy.

“It would be more along the lines of ‘Who do you think you are? We play as a team, we win together, we lose together’.

“Sometimes you will make a bad pass, sometimes you will not see the whole picture.

“So all that nonsense, shaking your head and waving your arms at your own teammates, is a no no for me.”