BRUNO FERNANDES says he used to go looking for challenges with Manchester United’s giant defenders in training in order to toughen up for life in the Premier League.
The 5ft 10in Portugal star arrived at Old Trafford two years ago after making his name in the Italian and Portuguese top flights.
And fearing he might be out-muscled in the English game, the skillful playmaker has revealed that he used to target “big” players in training to ensure he would not be bullied in matches.
Fernandes told Soccer AM: “I like to mess with the big ones so you get used to being bullied in the games.
“One of the ones I would always mess about with was Eric Bailly.
“Always in training, I would play as a No 10 and he would play as a centre-back and he has to jump on me.
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“I was always playing one-touch and he kicked me so many times.
“And every time that I pass the ball to do a one-two he would always put me on the ground.”
Ivory Coast’s 6ft 2in centre-half Bailly joined the Red Devils from Villarreal in 2016.
The 28-year-old was sent on a season-long loan to Marseille in the summer at the start of Erik ten Hag’s reign as new United boss.
Bailly made the switch after featuring just seven times in all competitions for United last term.
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Recalling their training ground tussles, Fernandes added: “He used to say, ‘Every time you get the ball – the first touch – I have to put you on the ground or you will run away from me’.
“Even on the training ground, I would know he is coming and instead of moving backwards, I would run forward so he can’t kick me.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
