'Suffering for my team-mates' - Bruno Fernandes admits he gets 'nervous' during every Man Utd game as captain explains 'my head needs to be working'

The 2025-26 season has already thrown Fernandes into a storm of highs and lows. Matchweek two saw him miss a crucial penalty against Fulham, skying his effort in the first half as United stumbled to a 1-1 draw. Days later came another bitter blow, as the Red Devils crashed out of the Carabao Cup in humiliating fashion, losing a penalty shootout to League Two minnows Grimsby.

But Fernandes found redemption before the international break. At Turf Moor, he lashed home the decisive strike in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Burnley, sparking wild celebrations among travelling United fans and reminding critics of his match-winning pedigree.

Fernandes explained that the nerves often hit hardest when he isn’t directly involved in play. Watching from the sidelines or even on television leaves him restless, pacing and shouting as though he’s still on the pitch.

In an interview with BBC Match of the Day, Fernandes said: "I get more nervous watching the game because you know, like, I'm basically suffering for my teammates. When you see something going against them and they are trying to make something different, and it doesn't come through, I get very nervous. I can't be steady on the bench or even at home. If I have to stay at home and see the game at home, I can't be like not loud. I need to be loud, I need to be active. It's like I'm in the game. In every game, I'm nervous. Nervous in the sense of getting that good nervous. I want to be involved in the game, like mentally I need my head to be working." 

Fernandes has never shied away from responsibility since taking on the armband, but with United under pressure to deliver silverware, the scrutiny is relentless. His missed penalty against Fulham was blasted by pundits, while the Grimsby disaster saw questions raised over leadership within the squad. However, there will be little time to dwell on the past as Fernandes now faces one of the most daunting fixtures in English football, the Manchester derby at the Etihad on Sunday.