Bruno Fernandez refused to blame referee Chris Cabana for missing a penalty in a 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Sunday. As the United captain waited for a spot kick, Cabana accidentally tweaked Fernandez, visibly annoyed before burning the bar at Craven Cottage.
It was the fifth penalty the 30-year-old missed in his Premier League career, and contributed to a disappointing afternoon in West London. United found the opener through Rodrigo Muniz’s late goal, but soon surrendered the lead as substitute Emile Smith Lowe painted the host level.
After full time, Fernandez lowered his failed penalty to his failed penalty, admitting that he had insufficient contact with the ball.
However, he argued that the cause of his misfortune with Cabana was that the judge did not apologise for misleading his preparations.
“Yeah, I’m upset. Obviously, as a penalty taker, like everyone, you have your own routine. You have your own thing,” Fernandez told Sky Sports.
“It upset me because the judge didn’t apologise, and that was what caused me in that moment. But that’s not an excuse for missing out on the penalty.
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“I just got a bad hit on the ball, I put my foot under the ball, which is why it ended up going on top of the bar.”
Reuben Amorim also spread the suggestion that Fernandez would have denounced Kabana for a penalty mistake after a 1-1 draw heightened pressure on the outcome.
He said: “No. I don’t think he’s used to missing out on penalties. He knows the importance of every moment in this context, as it can have a big impact on the team.
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“And during the game, I felt he wasn’t that happy and not so involved because he was so responsible, and I think he felt that.
United scored one point this season from the first six points available in the Premier League, losing 1-0 against Arsenal over the opening weekend.
Saturday’s clash with Burnley at Old Trafford is a must-see incident ahead of the difficult doubleheaders against Manchester City and Chelsea.
First, United will travel to Brandel Park to accommodate League 2 club Grimsby Town in the second round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
