Man Utd squad pays tribute to Bruno Fernandes Player of the Year

And when the final count was complete, the verdict that fans had returned was utterly emphatic, confirming what we had suspected for months: that the Portuguese’s goals, assists, tackles and raging intensity had earned him a record-equalling fourth Player of the Year. 

He received the trophy at Old Trafford in the week before the UEFA Europa League final in Bilbao, and now stands proudly alongside David De Gea and his fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo as one of only three Reds to win Sir Matt’s award on four separate occasions. 

We know intimately what supporters think about Bruno and the contribution he has made to the Manchester United story over the last five-and-a-half seasons. We hear the songs sung in his honour cascading down terraces every week, home and away. We know too about how many pundits and ex-players admire his ability and his relentless output.

But to really establish just how important the 30-year-old is to United in this challenging post-Ferguson era, you probably need to question one source and one source only: his team-mates. The ones who share the sanctity of those Carrington and Old Trafford dressing rooms with him every day. For that is where the character of Fernandes is revealed in its totality.

The first-team squad gave an inkling as to their thinking when deciding that this season’s Players’ Player of the Year award should also go to him – the first time our no.8 has won that particular prize since joining. But, specifically, what is it that makes Bruno Fernandes – both player and captain – so special in the eyes of those that know him best?

Take it away, lads…