Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag reveals 'targeted' Bruno Fernandes is carrying 'serious injury' as he blasts 'pathetic' social media criticism of his captain

Fernandes was an injury doubt ahead of the FA Cup fifth-round tie but played through the pain and ended up setting up Casemiro's 89th minute winner with a free-kick delivery. The Portuguese has many critics and Ten Hag denounced his detractors in the media and on social media.

"You saw Forest was targetting him, I'm not going to say what he has but it's a serious injury and seeing how serious it was, they criticise him on social media and it's pathetic and can't be," Ten Hag told a press conference. "He has a serious injury but he continues to play on Saturday [against Fulham], he fought to be part of this game. He has a very pain threshold, last year he did something similar at Spurs and the semi-final and it shows his leadership and that is very good when you are a leader, it flows into the team."

Fernandes has not missed a match through injury for two years and the only game he has not played this season was the trip to Liverpool in December, when he was suspended. He most recently drew criticism after a video circulated online of him seemingly hurt as he writhed around on the floor against Fulham, before miraculously recovering to demand a pass from a team-mate.

Fernandes faces another battle to be fit for the derby against Manchester City on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium. Ten Hag is already missing a number of key players for the clash against the treble winners, including Rasmus Hojlund and Harry Maguire.