Has Bruno Fernandes Lost his Mojo?
Zero goals, three assists (though two were against lower league side Barnsley), only three strikes on target, and two red cards in successive matches. Those are the damning stats that have defined Bruno Fernandes’s 24/25 season so far.
After record low levels of returns in 23/24, our Portuguese magnifico has had ten matches this season to remind us of the incredible player he is. However, his free kick hitting the crossbar, followed by his sending off against Aston Villa are par for the course this campaign for the United captain.
He is a far cry from the Bruno that netted 28 times and supplied 17 assists in his inaugural season at Old Trafford. Sadly, ever since then, Bruno has slowly fallen victim to the career stifling machine that has become Manchester United.
Hastening his decline has been the responsibility of the club captaincy. Like when Harry Maguire wore the armband, as well as Paul Pogba before him, Bruno seems to be stumbling under the weight of leadership. Many pundits also argue that under Erik ten Hag, Bruno has been shackled, stifled, and suppressed by the managers tactics.
The proof is all in the numbers.
Bruno’s Decline in Numbers
In the three seasons prior to joining Manchester United, Fernandes averaged 48 goal contributions per season. In 137 appearances for Sporting Lisbon, Bruno had 63 goals and 52 assists. While in his first year at United, he managed 28 goals and 17 assists in 58 matches.
Despite playing a similar numbers of games, Bruno’s goal contributions have dropped by 45% since his first season. On average in the last three seasons, our captain has managed only 26 goal contributions. He went from a goal or assist every 109 minutes to every 173 minutes.
He is still one of the best chance creators in the top five major leagues. However, his pass completion, shots on target, successful carries and takeons, and successful progressive passing each rank in the bottom 20% of all players in Europe at the moment. Whereas, at his peak, he ranked in the top 10% in each of those metrics.
His stats are currently on course to be his worst since signing his first professional contract.
Meanwhile, Bruno has hit the post more times this campaign than he has assisted and scored. And, so far in 24/25, he has miscontrolled the ball, been dispossessed, or misplaced a pass a combined 30 times already.
Even more telling is, his xG of 1.8 and an xA of 1.9. In the Premier League he is in the top three players for big chance creation. But, what that translates into, with only three assists in ten matches, is Bruno is also one of the most underperforming players in the league.
What Has Changed for Bruno Fernandes?
Given how prolific and consistent Bruno was for so many years, it begs the question, what has changed?
As much as our captain’s form has fallen off of a cliff, this is a slightly loaded question. The climate and environment at Manchester United since he signed has been chaotic at best, and downright depressing at its worst.
In his first season with the Red Devils, Pogba was in prime form, Cavani and Rashford were scoring goals for fun, Greenwood had emerged as the next wunderkind, United finished second in the league, and they made it to a cup final, only to lose in the penalty shootout.
Manchester United were riding high with Ole at the wheel. There was an immense feelgood factor around the club and the manager was playing free flowing football. All United fans will remember his ten game win streak as interim manager, capped by that glorious comeback against PSG. We will also not soon forget the 19 match unbeaten run the following season which set a club record that still stands.
The Arrival of the God King
Enter Cristiano Ronaldo. So many football fans worship the ground Ronaldo walks on. Thus, apologies in advance for the rant I am about to go on.
There is no denying CR7’s place in football lore. I have respect for all of his accomplishments. But, I am not one of his blind faithful. As a footballer, I loathe the man for how he has treated our club.
Before leaving Manchester United the first time, he spent two years publically courting Real Madrid. As a result of said courtship, in 2008 he made Ferguson beg him to stay for one final season, just so Untied could have time to find a replacement.
At the end of his second stint, he divided the dressing room by publicly criticizing the club, manager and his teammates. Meanwhile, in his final hours he did a live interview scathing everything and everyone at United, WHILE STILL ON THE CLUB’S PAYROLL! The disrespect this man has knows no bounds.
His ego was the beginning of the end for Fernandes as well as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
In the context of Bruno Fernandes, Ronaldo completely overshadowed Bruno in every way. Just like he did with their international team. Bruno immediately became less prolific because of the way Ole was forced to adapt with Ronaldo in his side. He was then forced to take on a more secondary roll to his Portuguese teammate. Despite being an established leader in the squad, and vice captain under Harry Maguire.
The two tend to operate in the same areas of the attacking third, especially during build up play. As good as Bruno was for Ole, no one overshadows the planetary ego that is CR7. Even the manager and club were beneath him.
The Downfall of a Legend
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was and always will be a United legend. As our manager I stuck with him until the bitter end. And I firmly believe that had Ronaldo not returned to United, Ole’s tenure would have been much better.
Alas, it was not meant to be. As time went on it was clear that Ole had the right idea for United. However, he was obviously not ready for the immensity of the Old Trafford hotseat. That being said, Ole bought Bruno to play open free flowing football, where creative players like the our number 8 have the autonomy to express themselves.
After the arrival of CR7, Ole had to play Bruno in a more rigid roll behind his compatriot. Then when things started to fall apart with Ole and he was replaced by Ralf Rangnick, shit hit the fan for everyone at the club, especially Bruno.
My point is, Fernandes was brought to United to play Ole ball. The second Ole couldn’t play his way, things disintegrated for both of them.
After the arrival of Erik ten Hag, he was then promptly burdened with the responsibility of leadership and summarily left in the lurch. Forced to closet the passion that defined his style of play for a more high pressing and uncompromising tactical style of football.
Manchester United is the Problem
In Bruno’s five seasons at United he has worked under three managers. In that time United changed their director of football three times. While, in the last year alone there has been a change in ownership, a host of changes to the coaching staff and numerous developments to the playing staff.
Bruno has also been forced to sit idly while watching players that were getting paid substantially more than him consistently underperform or ride the treatment table. Im looking at you Casemiro, Rashford, Pogba, Ronaldo, Sancho, Varane, Martial…
If CR7 is to be believed, United’s facilities are shite, and their staff are even worse. He arrived at the club and was promised football’s biggest trophies. Instead he was delivered a second rate domestic cup and and another domestic cup lauded only in England for how old it is.
I mean no disrespect to the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. Given Erik ten Hag has had to navigate many of the same issues at the club as Bruno, both men should be applauded for their respective roles in winning both trophies.
However, if I am Bruno, then there is a little piece of me that is thinking exactly that. And now that he is 30, he is running out of peak years to compete for said trophies.
My point is, the club have transitioned so many times since he arrived. Meanwhile the owners and executive staff have done nothing but fail to follow through on the glory they promised us and the players.
In an environment with so much change, so little support for the players and manager, little success to show for his efforts and a wage structure that is not commensurate to a players contribution to the team, how can any player, including Bruno thrive?
Erik ten Hag is Not Doing Bruno Fernandes Any Favors
As previously mentioned, Bruno was meant to be the key that unlocked an open, fluid, improvisational style of football for Ole. Fernandes was meant to be our inspired conductor. To Ole and Bruno’s credit it worked, for a while…
Unfortunately for Bruno, neither Rangnick nor ten Hag plays that kind of football.
Erik ten Hag came to Old Trafford with a reputation for being a master tactician, a student of total football, and a meticulous planner. During his pressers he discussed wanting to play high pressing, transitional football.
In short, that means that out of possession he wants to press the opposition high up the field quickly to win the ball back. In possession he wants fast, one touch, progressive play. The idea being to quickly create shooting opportunities before the opposition have a chance to reset into their defensive shape.
When it works it is beautiful to watch. When it fails…
The last two seasons are a testament to what that looks like.
Bruno thrives in a free roll with a dynamic striker in front of him and fast overlapping wingers on either side of him. We have the wingers, but we lack the striker. Meanwhile, ten Hag’s tactics are less than freeing for the players.
Bruno vs ten Hag
I can understand ten Hag’s vision, despite how the squad have been performing. But, those tactics are the reason Bruno has not seen an uptick in productivity.
Asking him to press high up the field and conduct games from the middle third means he is spending more time chasing the ball than effecting the game on the ball. It also means that he is often out of position to positively affect attacking play. And all too often he is too gassed by the 60th minute to thread those all important passes into our attacking players or make secondary runs into the box, as the opposition tires.
What’s more, since Cavani and Ronaldo’s departures, Bruno hasn’t had a proper and prolific striker to aim for. No offense to Hojlund, Rashford and Zirkzee. Which is probably why his xA and key passes per match are so high despite such a poor return this season. He simply has no one to aim at.
What I have a hard time understanding is the manager and club not prioritizing signing an elite striker. This team has been crying out for one since ten Hag arrived.
Until the manager unleashes Bruno and the front office brings in a prolific striker, I fear his stats will only further decline. potentially to the point of requesting to leave the club. At 30 he simply doesn’t have the time to wait for Hojlund to develop or the new owners to clean up the mess at Old Trafford.
Captain Bruno Fernandes
The armband appears to be like a lead weight wrapped around Bruno’s bicep. In Erik ten Hag’s first season, all seemed well, thanks to the new manager bounce. However, even in that first season Bruno only managed an additional 4 goal contributions from the previous disastrous season under Rangnick.
Now in his third campaign as captain his numbers only continue to decline. Meanwhile his indiscipline continues to rise as the frustration of being chained appears to be getting to him. For context, two of his three career red cards have now come in back to back matches this season.
Making matters worse for the club, if not Bruno then who? Shaw is always injured. Casemiro and Eriksen cant play enough minutes. McTominay, DeGea and Varane are gone. Maguire has proven he isn’t up for the challenge. All the other players are either too young, too new to the club or simply not captain material.
Maybe Martinez or Onana have the presence and respect of the players enough to step up. But, Bruno is captain by nothing more than default, not by merit or undenyable justification. I would also argue that the amount of whinging he does on the pitch, while part of that defining passion he has, is not becoming of a United captain.
He tries so hard to lead by example and adhere to the manager’s tactics. But, it is placing a cloud over the passion, creativity and freedom that has allowed Fernandes to thrive in the past. Like with Casemiro, I fear that Erik ten Hag is not utilizing him to his highest potential.
Maybe, just maybe, United need to stop thinking about filling all the positional gaps in the squad and start thinking about bring in a player with the qualities to be Manchester United Captain!
What next for Bruno Fernandes and Manchester United?
Bruno Fernandes is only 30 years old. He is still one of the most creative players in the world. On his day his chance creation and goal contributions are off the charts for a midfielder. And he has the ability to change the game with a single kick of the ball. That is simply just how good he is.
But a player’s potential does not automatically translate into performances.
It is more than clear that Bruno is not thriving under this version of Manchester United. For a player with his qualities, he deserves so much more than the interminable dross that has been our club during his tenure.
At his age he is at a tipping point. Does he stick with United or twist and continue his search for glory at another club?
Should Bruno Stay?
I don’t think it is an understatement to say that no one, not the fans, not the manager, not the club, wants to see Bruno leave. But what needs to change to make that happen? Bruno is a strong enough character that I don’t think his issues are a crisis of confidence or fitness. I think they are the manager.
Let me be clear. I love Erik ten Hag. When United signed him, so many of us believed he was going to be the next great Premier League manager.
However, his rigid tactical approach, the all action leadership roll he is asking Bruno to play, the lack of an elite striker, and the overall mental frailty of the players has handicap our number 8.
There are only three things that I think can save Bruno at United. First, Erik ten Hag is sacked. Second, United finally acquire the striker we need. Or third, ten Hag miraculously shifts tactics and sorts out the dressing room.
Sadly, the most likely of those things is the boss getting sacked. Even more unfortunate, is this pattern of players giving up on the manager at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, the manager and our captain seem incapable of rallying the players when heads begin to hang or focus begins to drift.
At what point do the front office at Old Trafford create a recruitment model that considers a players mental fortitude? Lest we continue to sack great managers in favor of players that only continue to perpetuate the vicious cycle that Manchester United have been stuck in since 2013.
Should Bruno Go?
If I am the club, I’m thinking now might not be a bad time to cash in on Bruno. He has three years left on his contract and has a market value between $75-80million. Meaning we could demand a premium for player who is still in his prime. Giving United the financial latitude to recruit a true leader of men. A captain that can help the manager, whomever he may be, help these players develop some much needed psychological stamina.
If I am Bruno I am talking to my agent right about now to discuss my options. Five season at the club, yet only one stellar term and two domestic cups to show for it. Enough is enough. Bruno, and the fans, were promised Champions League and Premier League trophies.
However, in that time United haven’t made it out of the group stages of the Champions League, and they have looked miles off the pace that City, Liverpool and Arsenal are setting in the league.
Had INEOS not arrived, I was convinced that Bruno was going to put in a transfer request over the summer. Fortunately for the club and the fans, he stayed.
Not so fortunately, if things don’t dramatically improve for this team, then I don’t see Bruno staying beyond this season.
Fernandes knows the implications of a club captain asking to leave in January. And I genuinely believe he loves the club. He is too respectful to put in a winter transfer request. But if things don’t turn around fast for both the player and the club, I fear the worst will come to fruition in the summer as he waves goodbye to Old trafford.
Glory, Glory Man United!
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