Bruno Fernandes says football should allow players to take off their shirt to celebrate if they want – after Amad’s sending off against Liverpool.
The Ivorian youngster scored a 120th minute winner in Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final thriller, as United claimed a stunning 4-3 win over their bitter rivals. The substitute celebrated by taking off his shirt amid the delirium at Old Trafford, but having already been booked, was shown a second yellow and dismissed.
Amad, who impressed on loan at Sunderland last season in the Championship, has suffered with injury this term and hasn’t played regularly for Erik ten Hag’s side.,
But Fernandes is a big believer in the creative youngster, and said post-match: “He got his reward because he’s doing the right things. When you do the right things, you get a chance, and what is yours comes to you.
“He deserves it, unfortunately, he got sent off, but it’s part of the moment and part of being young.
“This moment has to be enjoyed and I think it’s one of the rules football has to change. Because you should be able to celebrate the goal, obviously with respect to other clubs, to enjoy your moment.”
In an interview with beIN Sports after the game, United Ten Hag was asked what he said to Amad in the dressing room following his red card.
“I said to him, ‘I would have killed you [starts laughing] if not’, but I am so happy for him,” said the Dutchman. In his post-match press conference, Ten Hag conceded that Amad warrants more game time than he has been given so far this season.
“I’m so happy for him,” said Ten Hag. “He is one of the players with a huge setback this season, a bad injury, returning from it, but returning to a team where there is a lot of competition for his position.
“He does not always get the time to play he deserves by his training performances but then he is coming on, then he shows his contribution, scoring a goal. But we know he can do it, we know he has the key moments where he can decide a game.
“I am very pleased he got the winner. But we had another sub, Antony, who scores an equaliser, he is also in a problematic situation but you see he is fighting as well, he wants to contribute as well. I’m very happy with the bench today.”
