LONDON (UK) – Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes is one of the best midfielders in the world, said Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, adding that he tried to rope in the Portugal international while he was in charge of Paris St Germain.
Fernandes arrived from Sporting in January last year and he has been instrumental in United’s resurgence which fetched them a second berth in the Premier League table ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge to lock horns with Chelsea later on Sunday.
“The impact he has had is indescribable and unbelievable,” Tuchel said of the 26-year-old, who has netted 15 goals and provided 11 assists in the Premier League this season.
“To come from Portugal, from a competitive team – a big club but not from the strongest league – and step to one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and the strongest league in Europe… I have nothing but the biggest respect for this guy.
“It is outstanding. He is one of the best midfielders in the world, and he has a huge, huge impact and to have this as a single person in football, you must be absolutely top level because this is almost impossible.”
Tuchel was at PSG from 2018-20 and he said he was made aware of Fernandes’ abilities by the club’s former sporting director Antero Henrique.
“My first sporting director in Paris knew him well,” he said. “We fought hard to bring him to our team. We tried and he went another way. It is bad for us that we have to play against him (on Sunday).”