Peter Schmeichel hails Man United player who ‘stepped up’ in victory against Burnley

Even though Mbeumo had another strong game, it was Fernandes who stepped up when it mattered most, converting the penalty that gave United all three points.

Fernandes has a habit of coming through in key moments, and after this one, Schmeichel had nothing but praise for how he handled the pressure.

Speaking to Premier League productions after the match, the Manchester United legend talked about what stood out to him from the game and highlighted Fernandes’ composure under pressure.

“At the moment, it’s really, really difficult to be a Man Utd fan. Mistakes again, not taking their own chances, but today this fella here [Fernandes] stepped up in immense pressure and scored,” he said.

“They got the opportunity and converted, and oh my god, to win this game 3-2 – they could’ve lost easily. That’s how the game panned out in the second half. The manager said they have to win; nothing else will do. They got the three points.”

Bruno Fernandes returns to form for Manchester United

Fernandes had a rough start to the 2025/26 season by his usual high standards. He struggled against Fulham, missing a penalty and never really finding his rhythm.

But he looked far more comfortable against Burnley, and the numbers back that up. SofaScore’s stats showed how much more involved he was creatively, pulling the strings from midfield.

He made six key passes throughout the match, including one standout long ball over the top to Mbeumo, who probably should have finished it off.

This time around, Fernandes was not forced into a chaotic midfield role. Instead, he had room to operate alongside Mainoo in a setup that gave him space to play his game.

After the final whistle, Fernandes made it clear what this result meant to him. He is determined to pull United out of their struggles, and you could see how much it mattered just by watching his reaction at full-time.