---
title: "Manchester United: Frank Lampard verdict on Bruno Fernandes signing has supporters lamenting ‘mind games’"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-frank-lampard-verdict-on-bruno-fernandes-signing-has-supporters-lamenting-mind-games/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Emilio Galantini"
section: "Manchester United Football Club"
published: "2020-02-03T20:20:53Z"
modified: "2020-02-03T20:20:53Z"
---

# Manchester United: Frank Lampard verdict on Bruno Fernandes signing has supporters lamenting ‘mind games’

**According to quotes from the [Manchester Evening News \[14:12\]](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-utd-transfer-news-recap-17674341), Chelsea manager Frank Lampard believes the signing of Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon means his team are not favourites to beat their Old Trafford rivals to a top-four spot – resulting in some Red Devils supporters brushing off the apparent compliment.**

Fernandes, who[signed from Sporting](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51292312) in January to the tune of [£47 million](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51292312) which could rise to [£67.7 million](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51292312) through add-ons, has been touted as a star signing by Lampard. The Portuguese playmaker, who amassed an impressive 15 goals and 14 assists from midfield before putting pen to paper at Old Trafford ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bruno-fernandes/leistungsdaten/spieler/240306)), made his debut against Wolves last Saturday – completing 80.2% of his passes whilst threatening with five shots on goal, [as per WhoScored.com](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/123761/Show/Bruno-Fernandes). The Chelsea legend, according to these quotes, has lauded the 25-year-old as a ‘[world-class](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-utd-transfer-news-recap-17674341)‘ addition to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side – with the two managers going head-to-head in just under a fortnight during their next Premier League encounter.

As a result, some United supporters have labelled the former England international’s comments as ‘[mind games](https://twitter.com/d0ntgetittwistd/status/1223981048029159424?s=21)‘ before their meeting – with others slamming the manager’s verdict that United could be top-four favourites. Here’s what they had to say on Twitter.

> Mind games – because after the internationals United’s next game is…? Yep, you guessed it
>
> — Just introduce me as… ℝℕℤ (@D0ntGetItTwiStd) [February 2, 2020](https://twitter.com/D0ntGetItTwiStd/status/1223981048029159424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> He keeps downplaying his own team and talking positive about other to try to lower the expectations of Chelsea getting top 4
>
> — RunkeGlenn (@RunkeGlenn) [February 2, 2020](https://twitter.com/RunkeGlenn/status/1223973842323955712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> You’re forgetting who our coach is
>
> — DanielLUHG (@danielcohen2341) [February 2, 2020](https://twitter.com/danielcohen2341/status/1223973134627495936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> That’s an irony and mind games
>
> — LLM (@lungelomoss1) [February 2, 2020](https://twitter.com/lungelomoss1/status/1223974420236161027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> and what if he gets injured along the way hun?
>
> — Isaac Sarpong (@coby\_reigner) [February 2, 2020](https://twitter.com/coby_reigner/status/1223981198445293571?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Has he seen the rest of the squad ?
>
> — Paul Jones (@JONESYCANEATER) [February 2, 2020](https://twitter.com/JONESYCANEATER/status/1223974179244036099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***Do you agree with Lampard’s assessment? Join the discussion by commenting below…***