Bruno Fernandes puts spotlight on Manchester United teammate after equalling assist record

Bruno Fernandes equalled the Premier League assist record in Man Utd's win against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Bruno Fernandes was delighted that Bryan Mbeumo scored the goal that ensured he equalled the Premier League assist record. Before Manchester United's game against Nottingham Forest, Fernandes was one shy of the topflight record for assists in a season.

Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne jointly held the record of 20 assists in a campaign, but Fernandes equalled the record when he set up Mbeum to make it 3-1 against Forest at the Stretford End.

There was an outpour of emotion from Fernandes, who was congratulated by his teammates, after equalling the record. The United captain will now have the opportunity to break the record by providing an assist against Brighton on the final day of the season.

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Fernandes spoke to journalists, saying: "I wouldn't say I'm relieved, but very happy, very proud. Obviously, everyone knows it was something that, when you start getting close to that, you start thinking a lot.

"A good thing is that it doesn't change the way I play because I'm there to serve my teammates, try to make them score goals. So I'm very happy that I did it today and Bryan ended up scoring a goal also because it was very good for him.

"He's been going through a period where he can't score, and he was probably our main scorer in the beginning of the season, so I'm very happy for him too.

"Obviously, I'm very proud. We're speaking about Thierry and Kevin, two of the main names of the Premier League, and for me, I’m very grateful, and I'm very happy to do it. It's a very proud moment."

There were times against Forest when chances were missed, and it seemed like Fernandes would have to wait until the final game to equal the record.

"Obviously, it comes into your mind, you know, like we had seen this image, we knew that when we had this opportunity," he said.

"The main thing is that we're very aware of the spaces that we have to take, the movements that we need to do, and at the end of the day, if you score or not, it's going to be 50-50 all the time."

When asked about his teammates wanting him to equal it, Fernandes said: "They all were aware, and I think they're all aware also that I try everything I can to help them. So I'm very grateful to see their reaction more than mine because I wanted Bryan to celebrate his goal.

"I didn't want to make it about myself because at the end of the day scoring the goal is the biggest thing in football. And all credit to Bryan because if he doesn't put it on the back of the net, my record will not be there. So these records only come if your teammates do the things right, as you do."

Fernandes smiled as he joked he only targeted equalling the assist record once he reached 19. "Let's say when I got to 19!" he said.

" Then you start thinking a little bit, and then I think the Liverpool game, I could have, I've got the assist, then the game after, there were not many opportunities for me to create a lot.

"This game I had the chance of creating a lot of chances. We end up not giving just one assist, but the main thing I keep focusing on is keep doing the same things."

Can Fernandes break the record by providing a 21st assist against Brighton next weekend? "Let’s see," he said. "As I said, it doesn't change the way I play my game, so I will still have to create things for my team, and hopefully it can happen.

"But if it doesn't happen, I'm already very happy because I've never done 20 assists in the Premier League. I've never done 19 either, so even if I had finished with 19, I would be very happy."

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