Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has spoken out in defense of current club captain Bruno Fernandes, pushing back strongly against what he described as “lazy” criticism aimed at the Portuguese midfielder. Saha, who enjoyed a successful spell at Old Trafford during the mid-2000s, believes Fernandes is often unfairly judged despite being one of the most influential figures in the squad.
According to Saha, Fernandes continues to demonstrate leadership, intensity, and commitment every time he steps onto the pitch. The former France international stressed that Bruno’s impact cannot always be measured purely through goals or assists. Instead, he highlighted the midfielder’s relentless work rate, desire to win, and willingness to take responsibility in difficult moments for the team.
Saha pointed out that criticism often targets players who are deeply involved in the game and constantly demand the ball. In his view, this level of involvement can sometimes be misinterpreted as poor discipline or inefficiency, when in reality it reflects a player’s hunger to influence the match. Fernandes, he argued, embodies that mentality and should be recognized for it rather than questioned.
To strengthen his argument, Saha drew a comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo, another Manchester United icon who faced similar criticism during his career. He explained that Ronaldo, despite his remarkable achievements, was often labeled unfairly because of unrealistic expectations placed upon him. Saha believes Fernandes is experiencing a comparable situation, where constant scrutiny overshadows consistent performances.
The former striker also emphasized that football analysis has become increasingly simplistic. Rather than evaluating a player’s overall contribution, critics often focus on isolated moments or statistics without proper context. Saha feels this approach does a disservice to players like Fernandes, who regularly carry responsibility and set the tone for their teammates.
Saha’s comments underline a broader issue surrounding how key players are judged at elite clubs. In his opinion, leadership, effort, and consistency should weigh just as heavily as numbers on a stat sheet. For Manchester United, he believes Bruno Fernandes remains a vital figure whose value goes far beyond surface-level criticism.