Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has admitted he has been forced to change his penalty technique to stay one step ahead of goalkeepers. Fernandes is the club's all-time leading scorer from the penalty spot, with 36 goals, eight clear of Ruud van Nistelrooy. He has missed only four of the 40 penalties he has taken for United since joining from Sporting Lisbon in 2020.
Fernandes, who has scored all five spot-kicks he has taken this season, said: 'When you take so many penalties, you need to change. Also because the goalkeepers start looking at you, study you. I study them, I know what they do. I feel more comfortable doing the 'jump' and waiting for the goalkeeper to make a decision. But if I have to change it because I think I'm giving them something extra to save it, I will do it differently.'
The 30-year-old revealed he learned his penalty-taking approach from Fabio Quagliarella during his time at Sampdoria. 'He had a quick run-up and a very powerful shot, but he was always trying to understand the movements of the goalkeeper and I got that from him,' Fernandes said.
Fernandes also swaps tips with former United team-mate and Portugal colleague Cristiano Ronaldo during international duty. 'I'm always having chats with Cristiano, to understand the way he does it. Even Cristiano has changed his way of kicking. If Cristiano is one of the best penalty takers in the world and he's changing, why shouldn't I do the same?'
