Video: Why I mimicked Fernandes’ penalty run-up against Ipswich Town — Tielemans
Abdullateef Fowewe
Manchester United midfielder, Youri Tielemans has claimed he copied Bruno Fernandes’ stuttered penalty run-up during Manchester United’s 5-2 Premier League win over Ipswich Town as a deliberate timing trick to sync his sprint into the box for second balls.
The Belgian midfielder explained the move in his own words, “It’s to time my run into the box.”
Tielemans added that he mimicked Fernandes’ distinctive pause-and-go approach so he could arrive at the edge of the six-yard box just as the shot was struck, increasing his chances of pouncing on rebounds or loose clearances.
The incident came in the 61st minute at Old Trafford, when Fernandes converted a penalty to put United 3-1 up on his way to a hat-trick (40’, 61’ pen, 68’).
United had gone behind early through Leif Davis before Fernandes equalised; an own goal by Jacob Greaves and Fernandes’ spot-kick turned the game, with Bryan Mbeumo adding a late goal as Ipswich grabbed a consolation.
By mirroring the captain’s run-up, Tielemans aimed to remove guesswork about when the ball would be kicked, allowing him to hit top speed at the right moment rather than starting too early or too late.
In tight penalty-area scrambles, that split-second timing can be the difference between being yards off the line and being first to a second ball.
The moment has since been highlighted in Manchester United’s social media clips and discussed on the club’s Inside Carrington podcast, underscoring how even small, coordinated details can sharpen attacking set-pieces.
