Bruno Fernandes has picked out Juan Mata as the Manchester United teammate he enjoys playing alongside the most, saying: ‘He knows what I want and how I want to play.’
The Portuguese will captain United for the first time on Tuesday night against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, having made an incredible impact since joining the club from Sporting in January.
The 26-year-old has swiftly become a key player for the Red Devils and has been a regular in the side since arriving, leading the surge into the Champions League places at the end of last season.
The United team has been relatively settled since his arrival, which makes his choice of favourite teammate a little surprising as Mata has barely started a match since January.
However, it is the Spaniard who Fernandes feels he has the greatest connection with at the club and singled him out when he was asked about his impressive link up play with Mata, Marcus Rashford and Donny van de Beek against Newcastle on Saturday.
‘I think it’s natural,’ Fernandes told Manchester United’s official website. ‘Of course at the training ground you train all the time with them and you know each other and you know what is better for them and how they like to play.
‘You say one name with whom I enjoy playing a lot and that is Juan.
‘I think he is one of the smartest players, he knows what I want and how I want to play and he thinks really quickly.
‘Sometimes the point is not being quick but thinking quickly and I think Juan is one of those kinds of players and I love playing with him.
‘Of course, having Rashy in front is great,’ he said. ‘The players we have playing in our attack are unbelievable. They are quick, they have qualities and they can score.
‘As you saw in the last game it was a good pass from me but some players not as quick as Rashy might have had the defender take them, but Rashy did very well and his first touch was amazing to control the ball towards the goal.’
