Cristiano Ronaldo pressure forced Bruno Fernandes Man Utd penalty miss claims Tim Sherwood

In pictures: Man Utd v Aston Villa

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Tim Sherwood has claimed that Bruno Fernandes was feeling the pressure of Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence at Manchester United when he missed a decisive late penalty against Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon. The Red Devils went on to register their first Premier League defeat of the new campaign, with Villa holding on to secure a famous 1-0 win at Old Trafford.

Kortney Hause opened the scoring with just two minutes of normal time remaining before handling inside the area to give United a last-gasp spot-kick.

It was initially unclear whether Fernandes or Ronaldo would step up before the former made his way into the area and placed the ball down.

The stage was set for the 27-year-old to rescue a point for United with just seconds left on the clock, but he failed to hit the target altogether.

Fernandes, who scored 13 penalties last season, blazed his effort high and wide to hand Villa the result and condemn the Red Devils to a lacklustre defeat on home soil.

Speaking after the match, Sherwood suggested that Fernandes may have been putting unnecessary pressure on himself in front of Ronaldo.

JUST IN: Man Utd’s Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw ‘don’t look OK’ in injury update

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also boasts a strong record from the spot but was not selected to bear the responsibility of the match-defining kick.

“You don’t miss that, Jeff,” Sherwood told Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday.

“You never see him blast it over the crossbar, he normally waits for the goalkeeper to go down and rolls it into the other corner.

“It’s the pressure, the main man is here. It’s distorted his thinking.

“He’s got one chance, one chance only and we’ve seen it gone there.”

It remains to be seen whether Fernandes will be tasked with scoring United’s next penalty or if Ronaldo will be given the honours.

Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to blame Fernandes for Saturday’s result, with the 48-year-old claiming after the full-time whistle that his penalty-takers are selected before kick-off.

He also slammed the behaviour of Villa’s players in crowding the referee and attempting to play mind games before the kick was taken.

FOLLOW OUR NEW DAILY EXPRESS SPORT INSTAGRAM PAGE

“First of all, the way they get around the penalty spot, get around Bruno and all that, that’s not to my liking,” said Solskjaer.

“I do understand it, but it shouldn’t be that way. Bruno’s normally very good in those positions and unfortunately he just missed this one.

“It doesn’t get into Bruno’s head. He’s strong mentally and he will step forward again.

“The decision [on who takes penalties] is made before the game.”

Source: Read Full Article