There was a surprise development in the Portugal national team camp as Bruno Fernandes was sent home early before their second friendly match against Slovenia.
The Manchester United midfielder had featured and scored in Portugal’s dominant 5-2 victory over Sweden, but manager Roberto Martinez decided to release several players early for various reasons.
Fernandes, who is also the captain of United, will not be returning to the club until after the international break. This decision gives the 29-year-old some much-needed rest before United’s upcoming match against Brentford on March 30. Despite his early departure, Fernandes showed his quality on the pitch once again for his national team, contributing to their convincing win.
Manager Roberto Martinez explained the reasoning behind sending certain players, including Fernandes and Manchester City’s Ruben Dias, home early. He emphasized the importance of working on different tactics and concepts, especially with a similar opponent like Slovenia coming up next.
“It’s important to work on different concepts, especially because Slovenia has a very similar structure (to Sweden), also with two strikers, so the players who leave are all taken care of,” said Martinez. “There are another eight players who will arrive at a high level for the second game, with hunger and a lot of energy, I hope.”
Meanwhile, United manager Erik ten Hag has given the players not on international duty this week some time off, allowing them to rest and recharge. In addition, some injured squad members will be working on individual training programs at Carrington to aid in their recovery.
As for the players who are not with their national teams, they are expected to rejoin the squad at United on Monday. This will allow them to regroup and prepare for the upcoming matches in the Premier League.
Bruno Fernandes has been a key player for Manchester United this season, featuring in 38 matches across all competitions. His presence in the midfield has been vital for the team, and fans will be eagerly anticipating his return after the international break.
With Fernandes looking to continue his impressive form for both club and country, his return to United post-international break will be highly anticipated. As the team aims to secure a strong finish in the Premier League, Fernandes will play a crucial role in their pursuit of success.
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