It is fair to say that sometimes Bruno Fernandes does not help.
Pass out of a Manchester United partner and lifted their arms and the sigh comes out. An unfavorable decision and launches into the referee's face, close enough to smell the egg of your breakfast. A firmer entry than the average, honestly, will it ever walk again?
Fernandes' critics argue that this is not the way a captain behaves. Even his manager, Ruben Amorim, suggested that sometimes “it is not good to see” his endless movements with his arm and said he will help him handle him.
It would be good. Because very often these histrionisms have importance to what Fernandes is behind everything: a first level player who meets when his team needs it. Isn't that what leaders do?
It was Fernandes who appeared in the second stick on Thursday night to score the victory goal against the Rangers and avoid the increasingly pink blushs of United.
“When you are under pressure, he is always the guy who wants the ball, he is always available, and that is very important, especially in the Premier League,” Amorim said before United Fulham's game on Sunday.
The question that can be asked, then, is where would United without him?
Bruno Fernandes is first class for Manchester United and meets when his team needs it
Fernandes has scored a series of crucial goals and has been the Talisman of United since he arrived.
He scored the victory goal in the added time to seal the 2-1 victory over the Rangers in the Europa League.
A true talisman
Fernandes is, and it has been since his arrival in Old Trafford in January 2020, the United Talisman.
Since his debut, he has scored 59 goals in the Premier League with United, 13 more than anyone; He provided 47 assists, 25 more than anyone, and created seven less than 500 opportunities, only 362 more than any other teammate.
He adds his 501 shots to the opportunities he has created and is six of the 1,000, by far the largest amount of any player in the Premier League. Before the games of this weekend, Mo Salah was 33 behind him in second place, while Kevin de Bruyne was third, almost 250 away.
Fernandes has made 501 auctions and marked 59 goals since arriving at Old Trafford
| Player | Applications | Shots | Created opportunities | Set |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Fernandez | 180 | 501 | 493 | 994 |
| Mohamed Salah | 176 | 638 | 323 | 961 |
| Kevin de Bruyne | 132 | 332 | 414 | 746 |
| Bukayo Saka | 171 | 409 | 328 | 737 |
| They are Heung Min | 173 | 385 | 322 | 707 |
| James Maddison | 154 | 343 | 281 | 624 |
Fernandes is one of the only three players for this weekend with at least five goals and five assists in each season of the Premier League since the first in 2019-20 with Salah and Heung-Min are.
Nor is it only the weight of the numbers, but it delivers them when necessary. Of their 106 goals and assists, 66 of them were to match United or give them the advantage.
Only Salah has scored or assisted more goals to match his team or put Liverpool ahead, but represent a much lower amount of their total contributions.
United does not hit its opponents as Liverpool does, so Fernandes has less chance of adding a third or fifth. When he contributes, the game is often at stake and it is he who steps forward.
| Player | Goals + assists | To match or take advantage | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Salah | 164 | 89 | 54% |
| Bruno Fernandez | 106 | 66 | 62% |
| Bukayo Saka | 96 | 59 | 61% |
| Olivia Watkins | 99 | 59 | 60% |
| Harry Kane | 103 | 56 | 54% |
| They are Heung Min | 120 | 56 | 47% |
Does the dirty job
What is also underestimated is Fernandes' defensive work. He is a master of creative arts, but he is often criticized for not making a change when United does not have the ball or when things get difficult.
That is another thing that masks his act of pantomime. He is the only league player before this weekend to recover the ball more than 100 times and at the same time create at least 45 opportunities.
No midfielder has exerted more pressure on his opponents since the beginning of last season than Fernandes, while Bruno Guimaraes and Declan Rice are the only other central midfielders who have run farther.
It should also be noted that he almost always plays. It is almost never injured. Two games were lost at the end of last season for a knee problem, the first games that was lost due to injury with United.
Do not cry with blows and complaints. He has played 265 games with United in all competitions, almost 20 more than any other first -class team.
Since United, only 16 of his games has been lost, eight of which were in the Premier League. Not even put your feet up for the Carabao Cup matches!
| Player | Appearances |
|---|---|
| Bruno Fernandez | 265 |
| Bernardo Silva | 247 |
| Mohamed Salah | 244 |
| Phil foden | 237 |
| Thomas Soucek | 230 |
| Youri Tielemans | 230 |
Large player?
Throughout his career at United, Fernandes has been criticized for missing in important parties. Roy Keane said it in 2021. Graeme Souness said it again last year. The perception was that he intimidated the little ones but failed against the big ones. At first it was a perception that did not lack foundation.
Fernandes scored a goal in his first five league games against Man City. None of its first six against Chelsea. Once in its first six against Liverpool. He has scored a goal in his eight games against Arsenal.
That has improved in the last seasons. He took a step forward to mark the late penalty in the comeback against the City. Three goals in his last four against Chelsea. A goal and an assistance in its last three against Liverpool.
Among the players of the Big Six clubs, Soloh, Erling Haaland, Buyako Saka and are more goals and assists than Fernandes against Bix Six rivals since the beginning of the 2022-23.
He also plays in United. Don't forget it. That is enough to stop anyone.
Once criticized for his actions against the great six, Fernandes has improved his performance.
| 2019-20 to 2021-22 | 2022-23 to the present | |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 22 | 24 |
| Goals | 5 | 7 |
| Assistance | 3 | 5 |
| Goals + assists | 8 | 12 |
| By game | 0.36 | 0.50 |
Discipline time
Amorim wants to collaborate with him in his petulance. He would do well to work with him also in his discipline.
Since its debut, you have received 50 cards, 47 of them yellow and three red. No one has received more cards in all competitions since their debut.
But his petulance is a problem: since his debut, he has received 50 cards, three of them Rojas.
| Player name | Yellow cards | Red cards | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yves Bissouma | 47 | 3 | 50 |
| Harry Maguire | 49 | 1 | 50 |
| Bruno Fernandez | 47 | 3 | 50 |
| Lucas Shaw | 49 | 0 | 49 |
He has already been expelled twice this season, although his direct red against Tottenham was annulled later.
Every time Fernandes left United, in what place in the dynasty of great leaders will be located? Will you ever remain in the same breath that Roy Keane, Bryan Robson or Steve Bruce?
Probably not and much of that, unfortunately, it will depend on how Fernandes is driven.
What is clear, however, is that United, a club that is already in disorder, would be in a position much, much worse without him.