Man Utd captain Bruno Fernandes helps rescue stricken passenger while heading to Portugal international duty
BRUNO FERNANDES has been hailed as a "hero" after helping a passenger on a plane while heading to Portugal.
Following his Man of the Match performance in Manchester United's 3-0 win over Leicester on Sunday, Fernandes had began the journey to link up with Portugal over the international break.
The Red Devils' captain was taking an easyJet flight from Manchester to Lisbon with team-mate Diogo Dalot.
However, the 30-year-old was quick to act when he noticed a man appearing to pass out at the back of the plane.
As fellow passenger Susanna Lawson told , Fernandes was heard shouting: "Excuse me! We need help! Excuse me! We need help!"
Lawson was heading to Web Summit - where Man Utd CEO Omar Berrada, runner Sir Mo Farah, Manchester City star Ruben Dias and Sky Sports' Melissa Reddy will be among those speaking - when the drama unfolded.
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She said: "Bruno went to the loo at the back of the plane during the flight.
"(We) suddenly heard a shout for assistance which those within hearing distance looked back, including us as we were toward the back.
"Bruno was holding a gentleman who looked like he was passing out.
"I don’t know if he lost consciousness or not.
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";Members of the crew rushed to the back to help.
"There was a spare seat at the back which Bruno helped the gentleman to sit down on.
"He stayed at the back with them and made sure he was OK.
"It might have been about 5-10 minutes and then he made his way back to his seat but again very unassuming.
"He wasn’t looking for any attention on himself.
“He was very unassuming.
"Unless you knew who he was you would never have known he was anyone special if you know what I mean.
“We were not sure whether to ask him for a selfie because of that.
"He didn’t mention Man Utd at all."
At the end of the flight, Lawson managed to grab a photo with Fernandes.
Man Utd ratings v Leicester
Here's how SunSport's Martin Blackburn rated the Red Devils.
ANDRE ONANA – 7
Stood tall when Ndidi went through on goal and a decent tip round the post from Ayew as Leicester tried to get back in it.
NOUSSAIR MAZROUAI – 6
Lucky to escape tackle on Buonanotte without any punishment. Supplied the cross from the left which led to United’s second goal.
MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 6
Made a key second half clearance when the Foxes were trying to find their way back into the game. Fairly comfortable afternoon for home defenders.
LISANDRO MARTINEZ – 7
Spent the first hour at centre half then showed his versatility by switching to left-back when Dalot was forced off.
DIOGO DALOT – 6
Did a steady job keeping the Foxes at bay but then taken off on the hour – presumably due to injury as United had to reshuffle their defence.
CASEMIRO – 7
Better from the veteran Brazilian who helped United take command of the game before getting the chance to put his feet up late on.
MANUEL UGARTE – 6
Great challenge on Soumare showed what he is all about and some signs he is finding his feet. Will be looking forward to arrival of former boss Amorim.
AMAD DIALLO – 7
Delightful backheel for Fernandes to curl home the opener and could have scored himself. The Ivorian has had a good week.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 8
Presented with a shirt to mark his 250th appearance before the game and will be getting more plaudits for his performance here. Involved in all three goals.
MARCUS RASHFORD – 5
Given the nod to start ahead of Garnacho but did not do enough to justify the faith of Van Nistelrooy. No surprise when he was replaced by the Argentine on the hour.
RASMUS HOJLUND – 5
A largely ineffective afternoon for the Danish forward before he was subbed late on. Nothing wrong with his work-rate but does he have the quality Amorim will want?
She added: "When I asked him politely for a selfie as we were leaving the plane he was absolutely lovely and actually took the selfie himself.
"I praised him for looking after the ill passenger.
"Honestly if you didn’t know who he was you would have just thought he was any other passenger."
Fernandes' match-winning exploits at Old Trafford on Sunday marked his 250th appearance for the club.
These 250 games have seen him score 83 goals and add 73 assists.
When he returns to Carrington after international matches against Poland and Croatia in the Uefa Nations League, Fernandes will be greeted by a new head coach.
Ruben Amorim has arrived in England to take over the Man Utd job after leaving his own role at Sporting Lisbon.
The club's last four games had been managed by Ruud van Nistelrooy on an interim basis, with three of those four games since Erik ten Hag's sacking ending in victory and the other being a draw.
Three Sporting stars Amorim could swoop for after joining Man Utd
RUBEN AMORIM has ruled out poaching any of his Sporting Lisbon players in the January transfer window.
But the Portuguese side's chiefs expect Amorim will come calling in the summer - with his cheque book wide open.
Here's are three Sporting starts United could swoop for... but they won't come cheap:
VIKTOR GYOKERES
Age: 26
Position: Striker
Cost: £84million
Swede has shone since joining Sporting last summer from Coventry — catching the eye of all Europe’s top clubs.
Hit 43 goals in 50 games last season and boasts 18 strikes already this term.
GONCALO INACIO
Age: 23
Position: Defender
Cost: £50million
Ball-playing centre-back was handed his debut by Amorim and has since become a key figure in Sporting’s recent title successes.
Can also slot in at left-back if required and has 12 caps for Portugal.
MORTEN HJULMAND
Age: 25
Position: Midfield
Cost: £40million
Dane is one of the top holding midfielders in Portugal — and made skipper by Amorim.
He could be the man to replace Casemiro.
However, the Dutchman has now left the club with Amorim bringing his own backroom staff in to oversee his new squad.
A statement from the club on Van Nistelrooy's departure said: "Manchester United can confirm that Ruud van Nistelrooy has left the club.
"Ruud rejoined in the summer and has taken charge of the team for the past four matches as interim head coach. Ruud is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend.
"We are grateful for his contribution and the way in which he has approached his role throughout his time with the club. He will always be very welcome at Old Trafford."
Rene Hake, Jelle ten Rouwelaar and Pieter Morel have also left the club.
Before Amorim was announced as the new Man Utd coach, Fernandes tipped the 39-year-old to be a future Premier League manager.
He said: "He is a coach who has shown that he is prepared. Being Sporting’s coach and winning championships is not easy.
"Sporting went 20 years without winning a championship, and then Mr. Rúben came and won two. That in itself shows that his work is being done well.
"Now, whether he can do the same in England or Spain or anywhere else, we will never know until we get there. But I am sure that Mr . Rúben Amorim's qualities are there for all to see.
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"Since coach Rúben Amorim arrived at Sporting, I think they have been one of the teams playing the best football, they have been very consistent, the signings have been very successful.
"They are in a very good moment. They have just become champions last year and this year they are already starting in the lead. They are a team that is very well prepared."
Ruben Amorim leaves Sporting on a high
By Charlie Wyett
RUBEN AMORIM would have preferred to leave Lisbon in a blaze of glory after winning a third Primeira Liga title.
Yet football does not work like that. And in what was surely his final game before taking charge of Manchester United, Amorim prepared to say his goodbyes at a half-empty Estadio Jose Alvalade in a League Cup quarter-final against Nacional.
Sporting won 3-1 thanks to second-half goals by captain Morten Hjulmand and Viktor Gyokeres, who scored two.
Luis Esteves pulled back for Madeira-based Nacional.
The stadium will be a good deal more lively on Tuesday when Manchester City are here for a Champions League match — although Amorim should by then have his feet firmly under his desk at Old Trafford.
Liverpool and Aston Villa were both interested in Europe’s most sought-after coach. Even City could have been a possible destination post-Pep Guardiola.
Yet the United job is one Amorim, 39, could not turn down — even if not everyone saw it that way at Sporting last night.
There is clearly a huge split in the Portuguese club’s fan base over their coach leaving at this stage of the season with many believing he should have seen the job through.
Yet Amorim, along with the three-man coaching team who are expected to follow him, leaves a club in a much better state than when he arrived here in 2020.
Inside the stadium, there was applause — albeit muted — when his name was read out before the game along with the line-ups.
And there did not appear to be any jeers when Amorim shuffled out from the tunnel awkwardly towards the dugout.
So, while his departure is hard to take for some, none of the fans will forget his legacy.
This is a club which is back as the dominant force in Portugal. Even this term, Sporting have won their first nine league games, scoring 30 goals and conceding just two.
They are also eighth in the Champions League table, which is one hell of an effort.
In contrast, Lisbon was not exactly hit by League Cup fever last night.
Amorim made lots of changes, which saw Sporting’s star man Gyokeres, the former Coventry striker, start on the bench.
There was, however, a first appearance in six weeks for former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards.
He is certainly one player who has been transformed by Amorim since arriving at the club from Vitoria in 2022 and will be sorry to see the coach leave.
While he changed his team, Amorim stuck with his tried and trusted formation of a back three.
It will certainly be something Manchester United’s fans will have to get used to over the coming months.
But looking at the Premier League table, none of them will be complaining about the change.