De Ligt praises Fernandes' bottle

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has admitted he would not have had the nerve to take the decisive injury-time penalty that sealed Saturday's 3-2 win over Burnley at Old Trafford.

Skipper Bruno Fernandes stepped up even though he had sent his last spot-kick high over the bar at Fulham six days previously.

After starting their Premier League campaign with a defeat and a draw, and following that up by getting knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League Two Grimsby Town, if Fernandes had failed again, head coach Ruben Amorim would have been under massive pressure.

But despite a delay approaching four minutes from the moment referee Sam Barrott was told to go to the screen by VAR Stuart Atwell to the point when Fernandes took the kick, the Portugal star still found the bottom corner - which is just as well given Burnley keeper Martin Dubravka went the right way.

"I couldn't do it, I think, as a penalty taker," said De Ligt.

"I am really happy with Bruno that he stepped up to the penalty and that he scored a goal. It was really important for us."