Bruno Fernandes has been a difficult player to watch lately. Known for going down easily, irritating opponents, and often criticizing his teammates, Fernandes has usually been forgiven for these actions because he was effective in attack. However, this season, he hasn’t been delivering the same impact.
In Manchester United‘s Europa League opener against Twente, which ended in a 1-1 draw, Fernandes had another poor performance, frustrating the home crowd. Christian Eriksen had given United the lead, but a defensive mistake allowed Twente’s Sam Lammers to equalize with 20 minutes left.
After the match, manager Erik ten Hag admitted the team was too complacent and failed to finish the job. Although he didn’t name Fernandes, it was clear that the Portuguese midfielder has been one of the most underperforming players in recent weeks. Despite this, he remains a regular starter, but if United want to improve and if Ten Hag wants to keep his job, Fernandes’ lackluster performances can no longer be overlooked.
Bruno Fernandes had a disappointing performance against Twente, despite being heavily involved in Manchester United’s attacks. According to Sofascore, Fernandes touched the ball 72 times, showing that he is often the focal point when United push forward. He is always active, asking for the ball, and looking for direct ways to create chances.
However, his performance fell short. Fernandes lost possession 19 times, with many of his passes missing the mark and his first touch letting him down. He only created one chance in the game, but still stayed on the pitch until the end.
This decision from manager Erik ten Hag raises questions, as he made four substitutions after Twente’s equalizer but didn’t take off Fernandes, who struggled to keep control of the game. It seems Ten Hag is hoping Fernandes will deliver a moment of brilliance, as he has in the past. But right now, Fernandes’ high-risk playing style is hurting United more than it’s helping.
Erik ten Hag finally admitted some responsibility for Manchester United’s inconsistent performances following their disappointing start in Europe. Speaking to TNT Sports, he said, “It is not only the team, I have to look in the mirror as well. I am part of it.” A good place to start would be reassessing his reliance on Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes can no longer rely on his past achievements to stay in the starting lineup. United’s next match is against Tottenham, and they can’t afford another poor performance from Fernandes. A loss to Spurs would push United further away from the top four, which would be unacceptable this early in the season.
Ten Hag needs his midfield to be precise and his forwards to be clinical, as Spurs have the quality to punish any mistakes. Despite his recent struggles, Fernandes is likely to start again, leaving fans bracing for another tense match.
When Fernandes is in form, there are no problems, but it’s been a while since that’s been the case. Ten Hag is reaching a critical point, and his unwavering trust in Fernandes could be a major factor in whether his tenure survives under the new INEOS ownership.
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