Lammens gives ultimate compliment to Man United star Bruno Fernandes

The talismanic United captain is now just two assists shy of equalling the Premier League assist record, currently held jointly by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and former Man City star Kevin De Bruyne.

Fernandes' performances have put him in pole position to win a record-breaking fifth Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award. Cristiano Ronaldo and David de Gea are the only other players to have won it four times.

Fernandes picked up the man of the match award at Stamford Bridge, and he was serenaded by a jubilant away section after finishing his post-match interview on the pitch. The Manchester Evening News spoke to Lammens afterwards, and asked the goalkeeper about playing with Fernandes.

"Yeah, I mean, to be honest, for me, it's no surprise because you see it every day in training. It's more or less in training every single day," Lammens said. "I think he wants to be an example for us in training every day in those straight moments in training where you maybe think he can maybe lay off a little bit.

"But no, he's always there. And then, yeah, you think he cannot be any better, but then in these big moments, in these big games, he delivers with the ball and without as well because you guys only see… or most of you guys see the assists, and the things with the ball.

"But also without the ball, the way he fought for us, trying to help the team and trying to keep that clean sheet as well. It's not only the defenders, but the whole team today fought for it. I can't praise him enough."

When asked what Fernandes was like as a captain, Lammens explained: "I mean, he’s the way I like it, to be honest, he's not always the most vocal. He speaks when he needs to, especially before big games or when we have maybe more difficulties.

"He's also someone who's very, very hard on himself and on everybody else, which is why maybe sometimes he can look a little bit frustrated when it's not going our way, but that's also the way it has to be at this level, I think, because he wants to win Champions Leagues and he wants to win the Premier League.

"So that's what he's thinking about and that's what he tries to give us as well, and tries to take us to his level as well. So, yeah, he’s a leader on and off the pitch, and also like personally, he's always very nice to me when I came in here.

"In my first days, he showed open arms to me, so it's always a nice feeling when that comes from your most important player, the captain as well. It's always a nice feeling."

Fernandes recently reiterated he feels "at home" and settled with his family in Manchester. The Portugal international rejected an approach from Saudi Arabia club Al-Hilal in favour of staying at United last summer.

Fernandes' contract runs until the summer of 2027, with the option of another year.

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