'I still have to' - Man United star aims to break Premier League record at Brighton

Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes hopes to break the Premier League assist record at Brighton this Sunday.

Fernandes, 31, reached 20 assists for the season as he teed-up teammate Bryan Mbeumo during yesterday's 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest. That placed him level with Premier League greats Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry for the most amount of assists in a single campaign.

The Manchester United captain has a chance to surpass that total this Sunday in the final match of the Premier League season against Brighton at the Amex Stadium. Bruno previously claimed an assist at Brighton in the 2020-21 season during a 3-2 win for United.

Fernandes happy with 20

"Let's see," said Fernandes when asked if he could break the record this Sunday. "I still have to create things. Hopefully, it can happen. If it doesn't, I'm already very happy because I've never done 20 assists."

The Portuguese international added: "When I got to 19, you start thinking a little bit," the skipper told journalists after the match. "I had never done 19 either, so even if I had finished with 19, I would be very happy.

"Obviously, it's a proud moment. We're speaking about Thierry and Kevin, two of the main names of the Premier League, and, for me, I'm very grateful and very happy to do it."

Fernandes was mobbed

Fernandes was mobbed when Mbeumo converted the cross, with goalkeeper Senne Lammens joining every United outfield player in celebrating a record he claims he only started thinking about when he collected his 19th.

“I’m very grateful to see their reaction more than mine because I wanted Bryan to celebrate his goal,” Fernandes added.

“I didn’t want to make it about myself because at the end of the day scoring the goal is the biggest thing in football and all credit to Bryan because if he doesn’t put it in the back of the net, my record will not be there.

“So these records only come if your team-mates do the things right as you do.”

Brighton battle for Europa League

Brighton will likely provide stern opposition as they have plenty to play for. The Seagulls - who lost 1-0 at Leeds United on Sunday - are seventh in the table and pushing for European qualification.

A win against United would guarantee them a Europa League spot.

Head coach Fabian Hurzeler, speaking after the Leeds loss, said: “We have to accept it. We have to analyse it.

“We have to stay positive. We have to believe in ourselves and focus on the last game, focus on the things we can control because we did a lot of things right today.

“We dominated the game. If we had scored earlier then I think it would be a much easier game. We take the positives away. “