Bruno: We needed the three points
Bruno Fernandes described Manchester United’s win over Crystal Palace as "massive" after the Reds came from behind to earn three points at Selhurst Park.
Strikes of the highest standard from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount turned the game on its head within 20 minutes of the second-half restart, after Jean-Philippe Mateta had scored a first-half penalty for the home side.
Trailing at the break and fresh from defeat to Everton on Monday, the captain stressed just how important it was that the Reds showed the mental resolve to fight back for the victory.
Fernandes: Second-half response was huge
INTERVIEW | Bruno Fernandes discusses our comeback, Joshua Zirkzee's goal and Lisandro Martinez's return…
“It was massive,” Bruno told MUTV, when asked how big the win was for his side. “We needed the three points after the performance and the result we had last week.
“We needed a response very quickly. I think first half was not great for us, but the second half was a very big response.”
Zirkzee’s equaliser early on following the interval proved to be a pivotal moment, giving United the platform to go on and win, and deservedly so.
Bruno was pleased to see his team-mate find the net, but emphasised that the Dutch international brings much more to the team with his forward play.
“It’s important for every player to score,” he continued. “Strikers want to score goals, want to have their chances, but it’s not only about that, Josh gives very different things to the team when he doesn’t score.
“We’re very happy because we know how much of a boost of confidence it will give him to try more and get more chances to shoot, because he’s very capable of it.”
The final moments of the contest also marked a long-awaited return to action for Lisandro Martinez, who has been absent since February, last featuring against the same opponents at Old Trafford and being kept out through injury ever since.
Again, Bruno is pleased that United have another quality option back available in defence now that Martinez has returned to action.
“It’s very important to have him back, it’s such a long spell that he was out, even for himself, it’s great to be back with the team to have this feeling of playing games again.
“We know how much he struggled being out without being able to play for us. He’s back and one more option to have such big quality in the team, so we’re very happy with it.”