Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick to lead his side to victory against 10-man Real Sociedad at Old Trafford and book a Europa League quarter-final encounter with French club Lyon.
Needing a victory to keep alive their hopes of marking Ruben Amorim’s first year in charge with silverware and knowing the tournament is their only realistic chance of securing European football next season, United got off to the worst possible start as Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the spot after being brought down by Matthijs de Ligt.
Thankfully for the hosts, the were level within six minutes as Fernandes kept his cool after Igor Zubeldia had taken Rasmus Hojlund down as the Dane was bearing down on the Sociedad goal.
Remarkably, it took a third penalty of the night to get United’s noses in front.
Aritz Elustondo complained long after it was ruled he had fouled Patrick Dorgu. It made no difference, and for the third time, the goalkeeper went the wrong way as Fernandes found the net for from the spot for his 14th goal of the season.
The Spanish visitors’ last chance seemed to disappear midway through the second half when Jon Aramburu was sent off for hauling down Dorgu, who would have been through.
But just for good measure, United struck twice more before the end.
Fernandes completed his second hat-trick for the club with a low finish across goal and into the far corner before fellow Portugal international Diogo Dalot drilled home a fourth in stoppage time.
Fernandes steps up after turbulent week
This was a positive insertion into a turbulent week at Manchester United.
It began with widespread protests against the Glazer family, Manchester United’s majority owners before Sunday’s draw with Arsenal.
Fears about summer spending were raised on Monday by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s claim the club was in danger of going bust by the end of the year without his wide-spread cost cutting. Those concerns were played down by chief executive Omar Berrada in an interview with broadcaster TNT before Thursday’s game.
However, the grandiose £2bn stadium plans unveiled on Tuesday merely added to a sense of uncertainty, particularly as United’s current debt, including outstanding transfer payments, is hovering around the £1bn mark.
Into this maelstrom stepped Fernandes.
Former United skipper Roy Keane may harbour serious questions about the 30-year-old’s application, leadership skills and team ethic.
But, in a crisis, the former Sporting midfielder is the player most likely to step up.
He knew the consequences of failure when he went to take his first penalty and did look slightly nervous as he waited for the referee’s whistle to signal it was time to step up. But Fernandes kept his cool, just as he did at the start of the second half.
His final finish merely confirmed his man-of-the-match status. Keane may rail against it, but without Fernandes, United would be in a far greater mess than they already are in.
