Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised the instant impact of Bruno Fernandes since joining Manchester United.
Fernandes teamed up with the Red Devils in January for a transfer of up to £ 67.7 million, and he was immediately hit.
Six appearances for United have returned three goals and two assists, and Solskjaer’s squad are undefeated with him on the field.
The quality of Fernandes was known before his move to Old Trafford, although doubts are still raised about the signatures of January and their ability to adapt quickly to English football.
The Portuguese international however did not fight at all and Solskjaer admits that he expected Fernandes to instantly become one of his most valuable players.
Speaking at a press conference, Solskjaer said: “I’m not surprised because I saw what he can do on the pitch and his leadership qualities.
“If you do your due diligence and talk to people who knew his personality, you hope he would have that influence but couldn’t be 100% sure – some players take six months.
“But the main thing was to get it in because of the quality. He enjoys it, he likes to be around. It gives everyone a boost and has an aura. “
Fernandes is set to make his seventh appearance for Man United on Thursday night when the Red Devils make their way to the Championship-side Derby in the fifth round of the FA Cup – with the full commentary of the LIVE match on talkSPORT!
The match will see Old Trafford legend Wayne Rooney, now Rams coach, take his old side, and Solskjaer discussed this and other topics at his press conference.
You can read the best songs below …
About the injuries
“[Dan James] will probably miss this one too. Marcus [Rashford] and Paul [Pogba] are still outside and I think Aaron [Wan-Bissaka] might be in trouble.
“He has a test today but he struggled in our last game against Everton with his back, so he could be out.
“Paul is still working with the kiosks outside and he will not be training with the first team until next week, then let’s see how long it will take. He will need time to regain his physical form. “
On the departure of Sergio Romero against Derby
“It’s not a given, of course, but Sergio has done well in the games he has played. But I have no qualms about playing David [de Gea] to be fair.
“What he did and his performances were great.”
Returning from Rooney and being underestimated by Man United fans
“He was a fantastic player for Man United and he played here for so long, he is the club’s top scorer, he has won so many trophies.
“For me, I don’t think the fans underestimated him; everyone appreciates what he did for us.
“He is always welcome and always comes to Old Trafford and will be well received by fans outside.
“But any goal he scores against us will be trapped. He’s a threat in and around the surface and with games stopped, and this Wayne game will show what he can do.
“He wants to prove that there is still a fight in the old dog. We have to be on guard and give him no space, or in the midfield he has this Scholesy as a passing range. “
On a future coaching role for Rooney
“I went [Man United] in 2011, so many years ago and he was still young, but I met him a few times and his interest in football… he wants to stay in football, like many of us.
“He is a great person, great, he makes you feel good if you are 80 or 10 years old, he was my [son] Noah’s favorite player, not only because of what he did as a player, but because of the human being he was in and around.
“When he becomes a crèche, he will affect his players and he knows the game.”
On Liverpool’s triple hopes ending
“For me, it was a fantastic final to play in 1999 and it was always the last game of the season, a show.
“You can never underestimate the FA Cup in what it means, and for us it was a big step. The semi-final against Arsenal was perhaps the turning point.
“The Treble has been a fantastic success. We hope that we will start again but it is a difficult and more or less impossible task, there are so many good teams around.
“It has changed at the national level; it was us or Arsenal in 99 and now there are more of us. “
You can listen to the full commentary of the Derby vs Manchester United FA Cup match live on talkSPORT!