“I watched Man United’s match yesterday and I’m so pleased with his performance… he’s the type of player I really like”: Ruben Amorim has name ONE Man United’s player who he’s so pleased with after watching his game yesterday
A lot has changed around Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes since he took it upon himself to apologise directly to Erik ten Hag in the wake of his sacking and accept his share of the blame.
He has scored four goals, created two more and had a claim on another that was given as an own goal in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Leicester at Old Trafford.
It is an excellent return for four games and in marked contrast to the zero goals and four assists – two of which came against League One Barnsley – in the 12 games Ten Hag was in charge for this campaign.
When Fernandes spoke of his regret at Ten Hag’s exit, he added that “people will say we wanted him to be sacked”.
Fernandes said such an assertion would be untrue. However, such is the transient nature of football, Fernandes’ return to form will now benefit someone else.
“He is back,” United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy told BBC Sport. “He is producing goals and assists. That is the Bruno that is helping the team the most.”
On the day co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe presented Fernandes with a framed photograph before the game to mark his 250th United appearance, the 30-year-old’s latest efforts mean he has now scored 83 goals and has 72 assists for the club in all competitions.
Since Fernandes made his United debut in February 2020, only Liverpool’s Mo Salah – on 198 – has been involved in more goals.
Fernandes has been directly involved in 100 Premier League goals in 170 United appearances in the competition. That is only one more than Cristiano Ronaldo managed following his arrival at Old Trafford.
He is not without his critics but a week ago, on the BBC’s Match of the Day 2, Fernandes’ former team-mate Phil Jones called the Portuguese “a leader’”. On the same programme, former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy called Fernandes “United’s best creative spark”.
And that could turn out to be the key issue facing new head coach Ruben Amorim when he checks in at Carrington this week to start his new job.
Amorim’s preferred formation is three at the back, two wing backs, two midfield players, two inside forwards and a striker.
It is flexible in the sense the wing backs can be more adventurous, or less, as was the case against Manchester City last week when Maximiliano Araujo and Geovany Quenda effectively became part of a back five.
Having won two titles in four years with his chosen formation and got the United job because of it, it seems unlikely Amorim will alter it.
So where does Fernandes fit in?
Fernandes’ position will be debated because in Amorim’s system, the number 10 role he has operated in for United doesn’t exist and the midfielder’s style of play is not that of an inside forward.
So, does Amorim tweak his formation, use Fernandes as a false nine or an orthodox midfield player or does he play him as an inside forward with licence to roam.
The nuclear option would be to leave him out, possibly sending a clear message to the dressing room that no-one is safe. But it would be exceptionally brave, or foolhardy, judging on the statistics alone.
