BRUNO FERNANDES was ‘lucky’ to win a penalty for Manchester United in Thursday’s win over Granada, Paul Scholes has said.
The former midfielder, 46, did not believe the Portuguese playmaker was fouled enough for him to go down in the area.
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But he pointed the finger at referee Artur Soares Dias for ‘falling for’ Fernandes’ tumble.
With the score at 1-0, he hit the deck after a tangle with Yan Brice and stepped up to squeeze the spot-kick home.
United legend Scholes told BT Sport, via the Mail: “[Fernandes] makes a meal of it I think he’s lucky to get the penalty.
“Lucky to score it as well as the goalkeeper should do better.
“You know when it’s given and it goes to VAR [that] they’re going to give it because it’s not a clear and obvious error and he has touched him, so there’s no way they were going to overturn it.
“Fernandes does very well to get the penalty, they’ll be very disappointed.
“He was just feeling where his player is and the ball’s nowhere near him anyway.
“It was always [Edinson] Cavani going to get the header. Fernandes was very clever and he’s fooled the referee and he’s fell for it.”
The second goal in the Europa League quarter-final first leg could prove vital as the tie heads to Old Trafford next week.
United will host Granada with a two-goal advantage but Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay are all suspended.
Bruno’s eye is red and to score with one eye open is also a skill.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defended Fernandes after the win and insisted he was injured in the collision – adding that he scored the penalty ‘with one eye’.
The manager told reporters: “I haven’t seen it.
“I’ve just seen his eye when he came off, he got hit. Mike Phelan was sat behind me in the dugout and said he took one in the face.
“His eye is red and to score with one eye open is also a skill.”
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