The Portuguese midfielder is just the third player to provide 20 assists in a Premier League season, joining Arsenal great Thierry Henry (2002/03) and Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne (2019/20) in what is an exclusive group of players.
Fernandes, recently named United player of the year and FWA Footballer of the Year, got his 20th top-flight assist when Bryan Mbeumo scored in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest.
He is now one assist away with just one game remaining against Brighton on Sunday afternoon as he aims to make history.
Speaking after reaching number 20, Fernandes says he is happy to match the record and could end the season now with a smile on his face.
“I'm very proud. We're speaking about Thierry and Kevin, two of the main names of the Premier League, and for me I’m very grateful and I'm very happy to do it. It's a very proud moment.
“Hopefully it can happen. But if it doesn't happen, I'm already very happy because I've never done 20 assists in the Premier League. I've never done 19 either, so even if I had finished with 19, I would be very happy.
“I wouldn't say relieved (to reach 19 assists), but very happy, very proud. Obviously, everyone knows it was something that, when you start getting close to that, you start thinking a lot. A good thing is that it doesn't change the way I play because I'm there to serve my team-mates, try to make them score goals.”
Fernandes' assists have won Manchester United 21 points this season and he will aim to help the side out again as the side finish 3rd ahead of next season’s Champions League run.