Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has said that he handed Marcus Rashford a penalty against Everton on Sunday as the forward was in need of a confidence boost.
Rashford has found it difficult to make his mark for the 20-time English champions this season, scoring just once in 16 appearances ahead of his clash with Everton at Goodison Park.
The 26-year-old was again struggling to get going against the Toffees at the weekend, but he found the back of the net from a penalty in the second period to register his first goal at club level since the contest with Arsenal at the start of September.
Rashford is suspended for Man United's next match against Galatasaray in the Champions League, and Fernandes detailed the importance of boosting his teammate's confidence ahead of a busy run of matches.
The Portugal international is the club's usual penalty taker, and he was expected to step up when Anthony Martial was brought down by Ashley Young inside the penalty box, with the match delicately poised at 1-0.
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However, Fernandes instead handed the ball to Rashford, and the England international netted with an emphatic finish to double Man United's advantage, before Martial added a third for the visitors in the 75th minute.
"[I did it] because I felt Marcus [Rashford] needed a little bit of confidence, he needed his goal," Bruno told Sky Sports News after the clash at Goodison Park.
"Marcus is an excellent penalty taker too, I am 100% sure he could score that penalty. It is not about who takes it, it is about scoring and Marcus did it perfectly.
"I think we all know strikers and wingers want to score goals, they need to score, that is part of their game. It gives you more of a boost and as you saw after the goal Marcus was unstoppable. He could take on everyone.
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"Sometimes you need this opportunity to get your confidence back and Marcus has been great for us. Last year he was amazing so therefore everyone's expectations for this season have been a lot higher. It is just about getting his goals back and everyone saying he is world class again."
Meanwhile, Man United head coach Erik ten Hag also praised Fernandes for his decision to give his teammate the chance to regain his confidence.
"You saw how great a captain Bruno is. He could see, feel, assess that his teammate needed that goal. Also he had the confidence in Rashy to take the penalty because he knows he is a very good penalty taker. 'Take that ball and take your confidence.' As a team, you need that," he added.
"You need such leadership and you back each other, you cover each other and you give each other the confidence because you know you need it to get a successful season."
Man United will now head to Galatasaray for a must-win contest in the Champions League, with the Red Devils still in with a chance of qualifying for the last-16 stage of the competition.
Matt Law
