Bruno Fernandes was booked for a late challenge on Claudio Bravo at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty Images)
Bruno Fernandes was fortunate to avoid a red card after a challenge on Real Betis goalkeeper Claudio Bravo which Manchester United legend labelled ‘stupid’.
The Red Devils picked up an impressive 4-1 win in the first leg of the Europa League last 16 tie at Old Trafford, bouncing back well from the humiliating 7-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
Comfortably ahead in the second half, Fernandes chased down a ball which Bravo got to first and cleared, but the Portuguese lunged and caught the goalkeeper late, high on his shin.
He was certainly going for the ball, but Scholes thought it was a stupid thing to do, with the team in control of the game and risks not worth taking.
Having been full of praise for Fernandes’ performance overall, Scholes said on BT Sport: ‘There was one slight incident that was out of character a little bit and he possibly got away with.
‘He does go over the top, but it was the side of his boot that catches him, not his studs. But it was a stupid thing to do because the game was comfortable and he has got slightly lucky.
‘He’s gone right over the top of the ball and into his shin. It was just a bit stupid, there was no need for it, they were up in the game. A little bit of a risk and a gamble that he didn’t need to take.’
Another former Manchester United midfielder, Owen Hargreaves, was also in the studio, but dismissed the challenge, saying: ‘It’s not a red. It’s a yellow. It’s never been a red.’
Fernandes scored United’s third goal of the night after Marcus Rashford and Antony had found the back of the net and before Wout Weghorst finished things off, with the tie seemingly all but over at the halfway stage.
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‘It was just a bit stupid, there was no need for it.’