Bruno Fernandes is undoubtedly ‘s talisman. Of their 4-0 victory over Everton this afternoon, the Portuguese midfielder once more demonstrated why he’s the Premier League’s finest passer.
Former midfielder and beloved determine Juan Mata strongly instructed earlier this yr that United’s workforce must be constructed round him. These feedback had been made throughout a difficult 2023/24 season, wherein Fernandes was one of many better-performing gamers—though, to be truthful, the general efficiency of Erik ten Hag’s aspect didn’t set a excessive normal.
“The tradition of the membership must be constructed round him,” had been Mata’s personal phrases. “For me, he’s the one that’s all the time there for the workforce. He can play higher or worse, however he’s all the time there with the appropriate angle. And for me, that’s what being a Manchester United participant is.”
Ten Hag has since departed and been changed with Fernandes’ compatriot Ruben Amorim. Amorim has since introduced a 3-4-2-1 system to Previous Trafford, resulting in hypothesis concerning United’s captain’s position inside this set-up. Because it seems, he’s been utilised as one of many two midfielders behind the central striker. On at the moment’s proof, this proved to be a recipe for fulfillment.
With two assists within the first half, he’s now created extra Premier League objectives (46) than every other Portuguese participant, surpassing Bernardo Silva by one. In actual fact, solely Kevin De Bruyne (52) and Mohamed Salah (50) have extra Premier League assists since his debut within the league. Much more spectacular is that Fernandes has created essentially the most probabilities throughout this time, totalling 474. Moreover, he’s one in all solely two gamers to have created over 100 massive probabilities since February 1, 2020, alongside De Bruyne, who has 104.
Fernandes is at the moment on 100 and it won’t be lengthy earlier than he overtakes his Belgian counterpart. Talking of whom, earlier final season, Manchester Metropolis’s creator-in-chief De Bruyne was requested to rank his favorite inventive midfielders to look at in England’s high division.
Given the selection between Fernandes, James Maddison, and Martin Ødegaard, he put his neighbour within the high spot. De Bruyne was vindicated as Fernandes created a league-high 114 probabilities, subsequently turning into the seventh participant on document (since 2003–04) to create 100+ probabilities in consecutive seasons within the competitors and the primary since De Bruyne in 2017/18.
As they approached matchday 13, United had secured solely 4 victories from their first 12 matches and scored 13 objectives. Goalkeeper Andre Onana emerged as a robust contender for ‘participant of the season,’ but there may be potential for a extra promising future. Alongside Fernandes, who delivered an excellent efficiency, different gamers who confronted criticism from followers and analysts stepped up their sport.
Joshua Zirkzee led Amorim’s assault and was rewarded with two objectives. Marcus Rashford, who scored the primary objective of this new period for United, additionally netted a brace, making him the sixth participant in Manchester United historical past to succeed in 50 Premier League objectives at Previous Trafford.
Fernandes assisted his preliminary objective, whereas the second got here from Amad Diallo, who’s now being utilised without any consideration wing-back. Diallo assisted Rashford for United’s opener in opposition to Ipswich final weekend and created one other alternative, bringing his tally to a few assists in two Premier League matches. He now has 5 assists for the season, tied with Fernandes.
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