Bruno Fernandes admits his “lungs were on their last legs” during Manchester United’s epic FA Cup clash with Liverpool on Sunday.
Amad Diallo scored a late winner at Old Trafford to send United through to the semi-finals at Wembley where they will meet Championship side Coventry.
Fernandes was seen hobbling towards the end of the game and even ended up playing in central defence during the chaos of extra-time.
United lost both Casemiro and Jonny Evans to injury before the game and are already without the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial.
The United captain, however, insisted he was simply “tired” when speaking to TNT Sports Brazil.
“I was shouting and I couldn’t hear my voice. So you have an idea of what the noise was like for us on the pitch, with the tiredness, with everything.
“My lungs were on their last legs too… but it was impressive. I think they were excellent with us from start to finish, even when we conceded a goal, because the next moment we’d create something and the stadium would rise up again and create the momentum we needed.”
Speaking of his move into defence, the Portugal international said: “And at one point I had to jump into the middle, at others I had to drop a little deeper, because my legs were getting tired, I was cramping up everywhere, and I even took a knock to help out.
“But it’s whatever it takes to help the team. Because Antony ended up at left-back, Eriksen was also at 6, McTominay further forward. We were all giving everything we had to win the game.”
United travel to Brentford in the Premier League after the international break before welcoming Chelsea and Liverpool next month as they attempt to catch Aston Villa and Tottenham in fourth and fifth place respectively.
