Fernandes 'proud' to match Premier League assists record

Bruno Fernandes said he was proud to match the Premier League assists record jointly held by “main names” Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne and is now targeting top spot on the charts.

The 31-year-old helped Michael Carrick’s men wrap up third place by setting up Bryan Mbeumo for United’s third goal in their 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

The Portuguese midfielder is just the third player to provide 20 assists in a Premier League season, joining Arsenal great Henry (2002/03) and Manchester City star De Bruyne (2019/20) in an elite bracket.

“Obviously I’m very proud,” Fernandes said on the Old Trafford touchline.

“We’re speaking about Thierry and Kevin, two of the main names of the Premier League, and for me I’m very grateful and I’m very happy to do it. It’s a very proud moment.”

Fernandes, named as United’s player of the year for a record-breaking fifth time, now has the chance to reach 21 assists in Sunday’s season finale at Brighton.

“Let’s see,” he said. “It doesn’t change the way I play my game, so I will still have to create things for my team, and hopefully it can happen.

“But if it doesn’t happen, I’m already very happy because I’ve never done 20 assists in the Premier League. I’ve never done 19 either, so even if I had finished with 19, I would be very happy.”

The United captain was mobbed when Mbeumo converted his cross in the 76th minute, with goalkeeper Senne Lammens joining every United outfield player in celebrating a record he claims he only started thinking about when he collected his 19th assist.

“I’m very grateful to see their reaction more than mine because I wanted Bryan to celebrate his goal,” Fernandes added.

“I didn’t want to make it about myself because at the end of the day scoring the goal is the biggest thing in football and all credit to Bryan because if he doesn’t put it in the back of the net, my record will not be there.”