Bruno Fernandes Shines in 200th Game for Manchester United
Two pivotal moments in Bruno Fernandes' 200th match for Manchester United underscored his significance to the team.
The first occurred just seven minutes before the end of United's 2-1 win against Chelsea at Old Trafford, when Fernandes intercepted the ball from Chelsea captain Reece James, sprinted 40 yards down the pitch, and forced a full-length save from goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.
Fernandes responded by passionately cheering at the Stretford End, shouting, "Come on," three times.
Ten minutes later, after being substituted for Kobbie Mainoo, he sat at the edge of his seat, visibly anxious as he urged his teammates to secure the victory.
While Fernandes may have set the stage for victory with his 100th goal for the club, it was these two moments that highlighted the 31-year-old's unwavering desire for United to succeed.
Fernandes' coach, Ruben Amorim, praised him after the match, stating, "He deserves all the recognition. The most important aspect is his influence on the squad. Sometimes he may not be in the best position to lead, but the role of the captain is to excel in every situation to help the team improve. He is achieving that. I believe he can play even better—just as everyone on our team can."
Since joining United from Sporting Lisbon for £47 million in January 2020, Fernandes has significantly enhanced the team's attacking focus. Despite facing criticism for his temperament and discipline, his absence would have left United in a difficult position.
There were calls for Fernandes to leave during the summer transfer window, especially after receiving a lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League. However, given the club's recent recruitment struggles, his departure could have exacerbated their challenges.
Under Amorim, United has yet to win consecutive Premier League matches, but they have a chance to change that against Brentford next Saturday. The team has previously managed to win two out of three matches under the former Sporting coach.
Despite only securing a second-place finish in the Premier League, along with an FA Cup and an EFL Cup, Amorim acknowledges that Fernandes deserves more recognition for his contributions. "He deserves to be part of our club's history, not just for his individual talents but for what the team achieves together," he remarked.
This season, Amorim has opted to position Fernandes in a deeper midfield role, which theoretically allows him to influence the game more frequently. However, this shift has also exposed weaknesses in his ability to track opponents and recognize threats. He has been criticized for his role in conceding goals against Emile Smith Rowe of Fulham and Phil Foden during the Manchester derby.
Despite the scrutiny, Fernandes' emotional response at the end of the match indicated his continued commitment to United. "I am very proud of these two significant milestones, but they weren't my main focus. My goal is simply to play the next game," he told Match of the Day.
After emphasizing the benefits of avoiding European distractions over the summer, Amorim's team faced a Chelsea side that had Champions League commitments and was reduced to ten men early in the match. This was a game United should have capitalized on.
Next weekend's match against Brentford presents a different challenge, as the west London team will have had a full week off and has scored four goals in two of their last three home games against United, remaining unbeaten in that stretch.
The return of Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount is a positive development for United, although Casemiro will be absent due to a one-match suspension for receiving two yellow cards, complicating the team's task, according to Amorim.
After his memorable pre-match assertion that even the Pope couldn't change his tactics, Amorim was humorously asked by a member of the press if the Pontiff had reached out. He replied, "No, but it's likely that minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be in touch after watching from the directors' box." Amorim added with a smile, "I was joking. You all enjoy it, so don’t complain. Let's aim to win the next match, and I’ll provide you with more entertaining quotes."