Why Is Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes So Underrated?

As Manchester United enter the final stage of their season, with still three competitions with objectives to play for in, they will need every ounce that Bruno Fernandes has left to give.

Having played 44 times for the Red Devils under Erik Ten Hag this season, he has racked up the most amount of minutes of any player at the club with 3,841. A player that is consistently on the pitch for Manchester United deserves more credit for the performances that he has put in.

There are a section of fans and those who do not support Manchester United who are quick to criticise the Portuguese attacking midfielder. Having been bought from Sporting CP for £60 million in the winter of 2020, Fernandes has produced performance after performance in a Red Devils shirt.

This season has certainly had its rollercoaster moments in Ten Hag’s first year in charge, but Fernandes has been at the forefront of the positivity shining through. A captain-in-waiting with Harry Maguire still contracted to the club, the Portugal international has led the team back up the Premier
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League and firing in European competition.

Not one to complain, Fernandes has been ushered into a variety of ‘unfamiliar’ positions to facilitate the involvement of others. This season, he has played as a number 10, central midfielder, left winger and on the right. It is clear that Fernandes is not a winger, but he has never once complained and has still managed to find a way to influence the game in United’s favour.

Questions are always posed to him about his risk taking and ‘carelessness’ in possession, but these are the byproducts of a highly influential creative midfield player. Fernandes sees passes before most and has the confidence to attempt them.

Not every pass is going to result in an attacking chance, but the one that does usually ends up in the back of the net. Every team needs a player who has the skill, panache and ability to try creative moments in games which Fernandes excels in.

With a combined 22 goals and assists in 44 appearances this season, he is still putting up impressive numbers albeit from different positions. As Ten Hag settles down with the right personnel going into next season, Fernandes’ position should be more settled which will give him the platform to excel on.

Manchester United are still competing for a top four finish in the Premier League, along with another domestic cup and the Europa League. Since the post-World Cup restart, the Red Devils have played midweek and on a Saturday or Sunday for three months: a ridiculous fixture schedule that is only going to maintain its course.

With someone so physically strong in handling 90 minute performances every few days, Fernandes is absolutely essential to the future successes of Manchester United. To have a captain on the pitch that you know will continue to play no matter what shapes the team’s ethos and landscape of their output.

Ten Hag is trying to build a team of captains and winners on the pitch and he certainly has one in Fernandes.