Rio Ferdinand claims Manchester United would face relegation without Bruno Fernandes ahead of Lyon clash - 'Without him there's no hope'
ByTNT Sports
Published 17/04/2025 at 20:19 GMT+1
Former Manchester United central defender Rio Ferdinand said that if the club did not have their captain Bruno Fernandes, they would be struggling to stay in the Premier League this season. The 30-year-old Portugal international is the club’s top scorer with 16 goals so far this season, and will feature in the second leg match against Lyon on Thursday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Without Fernandes, Man Utd are in a relegation battle - Ferdinand
Video credit: TNT Sports
Rio Ferdinand believes that Manchester United would be battling for Premier League survival without Bruno Fernandes.
Ferdinand was talking on TNT Sports on Thursday, ahead of the second leg of United's UEFA Europa League semi-final against Lyon at Old Trafford.
Fernandes is United’s top scorer, and while he has attracted criticism from some pundits such as Roy Keane, the captain’s performances this season have reportedly attracted interest from Real Madrid.
The 30-year-old Portugal international has 16 goals this season, his second-best haul of his Old Trafford career, and he was again selected by manager Ruben Amorim to play against Lyon.
Discussing Fernandes' importance to the side, Ferdinand said: "If Bruno is not at this football club, we’re in the shake-up for the relegation battle.
"I’m telling you, because without him, there’s no hope in terms of the attacking force of this team.
"The numbers we’re talking about with the [other] attacking players are so low, he’s the only inspiring factor in all the games you watch."
Ferdinand claimed that if Fernandes was off his game against Lyon, there would be little hope of United registering a goal in the game.
"If he doesn’t cook, if he doesn’t come in and start performing, I don’t see any way in which we’re going to get anything out of the game," Ferdinand said.
"You might get a flash out of [Alejandro] Garnacho, but he’s the main guy."
United face Lyon at Old Trafford live on TNT Sports and discovery+, looking to secure passage to the last four of the competition, having drawn 2-2 in the first leg in France last week.
How to watch Man Utd v Lyon
United take on Lyon on Thursday, April 17, at Old Trafford, with the game kicking off at 20:00 UK time.
You can watch the game on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting from 19:00.
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