Bruno Fernandes demonstrated his pivotal role at Manchester United by scoring twice in their 2-1 victory over West Ham, marking the start of their US pre-season tour at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Despite United's significant summer investment of over £120 million in attacking players Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, it was Fernandes who made the difference, capitalizing on two mistakes by West Ham's goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Fernandes netted a penalty in the fifth minute and secured his second goal just after halftime with a shot from outside the box.
Jarrod Bowen reduced the deficit in the 63rd minute, but United's goalkeeper Altay Bayindir made a crucial save in injury time to deny the West Ham captain, ensuring Ruben Amorim's team emerged victorious in their opening match of the Premier League Summer Series.
With just three weeks until the Premier League season begins, what insights can we draw from this match?
Fernandes is Crucial to Manchester United
On Friday, Amorim shared his strategy to play Fernandes in a deeper role this season, rather than in one of the two number 10 positions critical to his system.
However, Fernandes was positioned as the right-sided number 10 alongside Cunha, as new signing Bryan Mbeumo, acquired for £65 million, was not yet fit to participate.
Fernandes' familiar style of finding space and attempting creative plays was evident throughout the match.
In a game where United created numerous chances, it was Fernandes who scored, converting a penalty after Areola fouled Ayden Heaven.
His second goal resulted from another Areola error, with Kobbie Mainoo intercepting a poor pass and setting up Fernandes to score.
Beyond his goals, Fernandes contributed significantly to the game, assisting Rasmus Hojlund in the first minute, showcasing strength and skill against Hammers defender Max Killman.
Fans will be relieved that the Portuguese midfielder, the club's player of the year, declined a lucrative offer from a Saudi Pro-League club earlier this summer.
After the match, Amorim praised Fernandes as a "leader, both on and off the field," adding that the 30-year-old "will have more support this season."
Is De Ligt Edging Ahead of Maguire?
Amorim downplayed speculation that his starting lineup, which saw all but goalkeeper Bayindir replaced after 65 minutes, would be the same for their Premier League opener against Arsenal at Old Trafford on August 17.
However, it appears Amorim favors mobile and quick players for the defensive slots. De Ligt occupied the central position for most of the match before being replaced by Maguire.
While neither player stood out, De Ligt's starting position suggests he currently has the edge over Maguire.
Connections Still Need to Be Created
West Ham manager Graham Potter observed that his team started each half poorly but improved as the game progressed.
Bowen's game-reading ability and knack for spotting openings were crucial for West Ham.
However, his goal highlighted communication gaps within the Manchester United defense.
As Tomas Soucek advanced, central defender Heaven was too close to De Ligt, wing-back Patrick Dorgu was too far forward, and neither Mainoo nor Toby Collyer addressed the midfield threat.
This allowed Bowen to exploit space, receive Soucek's pass, and score.
Potter described it as "a really good goal," while Amorim likely felt it was preventable, emphasizing the importance of communication.
What's Next?
United will travel to Chicago to face Bournemouth on Thursday (02:30 BST) at Soldier Field, where Mbeumo is expected to make his debut.
In an earlier Summer Series match at the MetLife Stadium, Bournemouth defeated Everton 3-0, with goals from Philip Billing, Dango Ouattara, and Daniel Adu-Adjei securing victory for Andoni Iraola's team.
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