Bruno Fernandes was involved in a touchline bust-up with an Everton legend during Manchester United’s 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.
United looked destined to suffer yet another embarrassing defeat in the Premier League after going 2-0 down at half-time to Everton on Saturday.
However, late goals from Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte salvaged a point, though they were extremely lucky to do so after VAR controversially overturned an injury-time penalty for the Toffees.
Though there was little in the performance for Ruben Amorim to take pride in, Fernandes’ stunning free-kick was delightful to watch, though he was also involved in a less impressive moment earlier in the match.
As reported by The Telegraph, the Red Devils captain had a heated exchange with Everton legend Derek Mountfield on the touchline just before the second-half kicked-off.
Mountfield played for Everton from 1982 to 1988, helping them win two First Division titles, an FA Cup and the UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup.
The former centre-back was at Goodison Park on Saturday to be inducted into the club’s hall of fame, appearing on the pitch at half-time alongside fellow Toffees legends.
As players returned from the dressing room for the second-half, Mountfield ‘playfully mimed elbowing United players’ – a joke Fernandes did not take too well to, leading to the pair exchanging words before the match resumed.
The incident may well have given the attacking midfielder extra motivation to help turn the game round, with Everton manager David Moyes singling the skipper out for praise after full-time.
‘Bruno played well,’ the former United boss told TNT Sports.
‘He dropped deeper and he got on the ball much more. We found that difficult to deal with.
‘That Bruno goal gave them the momentum. We were up against a good side.’
‘When you are in the dressing room at half-time after a game like this, you just have to focus on yourself and try to lift your standard and your game to try to get something from the game,’ Fernandes told MUTV post-match.
‘Obviously, it was very tough for us in the first half because we were trying to do the things but it wasn’t working out in the way that we wanted.
‘I think in the second half, obviously you’re 2-0 down, you have more freedom because you are already losing, so you have nothing to lose more.
‘I think you get more of a try to do something else, and that’s why we get the result.’
The result leaves United 15th in the table, 13 points clear of Ipswich Town in the relegation zone ahead of their match against the Tractor Boys on Wednesday night.
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