Not something I was aiming for - Fernandes on 200th Premier League appearance and 100th goal for Manchester United

Bruno Fernandes says he was not aiming to set a new milestone at Old Trafford

Bruno Fernandes has expressed his satisfaction after Manchester United's hard-fought 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford.

The club captain praised his team's strong mentality and tactical discipline, highlighting the importance of securing a much-needed three points in a chaotic match that saw both sides reduced to ten men.

The match, which was full of drama from the start, saw Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez receive a straight red card just five minutes into the game. United capitalised on their man advantage with Fernandes scoring in the 14th minute and Casemiro doubling the lead.

However, Casemiro was also sent off just before halftime, setting up a tense second half.

What Fernandes said

Speaking to the BBC after the game, Fernandes emphasised that despite the performance challenges, the result was all that mattered.

Fernandes noted that the team's strong start was key to their success.

"You want to perform but at the end of the day what matters is points. We haven't been getting the points we wanted," he said.

He added, "He credited the team's aggressive approach for forcing Chelsea into a mistake that led to the early red card.

He also provided a detailed analysis of the team's tactical plan after being reduced to ten men.

"We wanted to close the middle. Without Bryan Mbeumo who makes the runs for the team, we gave them the chance to go down the side and then close them with our wing-backs. Our centre-backs were very good at defending the box," Fernandes stated.

Two massive milestones for the Captain

The victory was even more special for Fernandes, who celebrated two significant personal milestones during the match.

His goal against Chelsea was his 100th for Manchester United in all competitions, a remarkable feat for a midfielder. The game also marked his 200th Premier League appearance.

When asked about his achievements, a proud Fernandes remained focused on the team.

"Obviously, I'm very proud of that - two massive milestones. Not something I was aiming for. I just aimed to play the next game," he said.

The Portuguese joined Manchester United in January 2020 for an initial €55 million (£47 million), becoming at the time the second-highest fee for a Portuguese player leaving the domestic league.