RYAN GIGGS once labelled Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes a “liability” – but says he has improved the club’s players since his £55million arrival in January.
United and Wales legend Giggs has also praised the club’s transfer gurus for bringing in the Portuguese wizard.
And Giggs says it has been pivotal to sparking United’s run which looks set to secure Champions League football next season.
Fernandes, who missed out on a move to Spurs last summer when the North Londoners refused to pay Sporting’s big fee, is yet to taste defeat in a Red Devils shirt from his nine appearances.
The 25-year-old scooped the February Premier League Player of the Month on the back of a series of stunning performances after his transfer.
United are fifth in the Prem, only three points off fourth-placed Chelsea but with neighbours Manchester City unlikely to play in the Champions League next season due to their ban, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men are in a strong position to return to European football’s top table.
Giggs told the latest MUTV Group Chat: “It was a shame we had to pause the season because we were flying.
“Ole started his management with United flying, then had a tough spell, and then we were on a good run.
“But the players he’s got in have been really impressive.
“They’ve improved the team and the dressing room and obviously, in Fernandes, we’ve seen over the years the effect one player can sometimes have.
“You talk about the Cantonas, the van Persies – and I’m not comparing him yet to them, but he’s made other players play better and he’s given everyone a lift.”
But Gigg said in February that he felt Fernandes could be a “liability”.
He said: “When he’s a little bit deeper, defensively, he may be a bit of a liability.”
And Giggs has warned United still need to do more if they are to end their seven-year wait for another Premier League title.
He added: “I still think we need four or five players but we’re definitely going in the right direction.”
