Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has disclosed that he has been forced to adapt his penalty-taking technique to stay ahead of increasingly savvy goalkeepers. The Portugal international, who has scored 36 spot-kicks for the club – a record eight more than Ruud van Nistelrooy – admitted that the constant analysis from opposition goalkeepers has prompted him to evolve his approach.
Fernandes has converted all five penalties he has taken this season, missing only four out of 40 since his £47million move from Sporting Lisbon in 2020. Speaking about his method, he said: “When you take so many penalties, you need to change. Goalkeepers start looking at you, study you. I study them too, I know what they do and what their accuracy is against different takers. But it always depends on the moment in the game.”
The 30-year-old explained that his preferred technique involves a “jump” and waiting for the goalkeeper to commit, but he is willing to alter it if necessary. He credited former Sampdoria striker Fabio Quagliarella for teaching him to read goalkeepers’ movements. “He always checked with the goalkeepers about what he should do, and I got that from him. I always want to learn from the best.”
Fernandes also revealed that he regularly exchanges tips with Cristiano Ronaldo during international duty. “He sometimes asks me what I think about the goalkeeper. Even he has changed his way of kicking over the years. If Cristiano is one of the best and he’s changing, why shouldn’t I do the same?”
