Sport
Is Bruno Fernandes damaging Manchester United’s development?
Bruno Fernandes has been one of the most influential individuals since he has arrived at Manchester United in January 2020, from displaying his leadership skills without the captaincy armband to being a prolific player in terms of goals and assists, he has proved himself within a short period of time.
During the chaotic era under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Portuguese international thrived in a side that were simply not set up to play as a possession-based team and he had the freedom to play exactly how he wanted, given the lack of tactics and specific system implemented into the squad.
Since Ralf Rangnick took charge, Bruno Fernandes has looked a shadow of his former self and is facing the realisation that he must sacrifice his style of play for the greater good of the team. From his constant knack of playing long balls to his lack of discipline defensively and positionally, he has work to do to help the team on and off the ball.
Although he has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, playing as a number eight within a 4-3-3 formation, the former Sporting Lisbon and Sampdoria midfielder is the type of player who plays with high intensity and emotion and there is no guarantee that he will continue to play if he doesn’t adapt, with fans becoming frustrated with his performances.
Is Bruno Fernandes damaging the development of Manchester United? We look at the factors.
Pushing United out of shape
The number one rule of pressing is that the team must do it as a unit and not individually. Rangnick was looking to implement a pressing style of play within the 4-2-2-2 system but he has now had to adapt to a 4-3-3, due to the lack of intelligent and technical players available within the squad to play to his preferred setup.
Bruno Fernandes has continued to press by himself, often out of desperation and frustration, which allows the opposition to pass around him and progress higher up the pitch. He is yet to be dropped by Rangnick and was not done so previously by Solskjaer due to his importance to the team and his ability to produce a moment of magic.
The Old Trafford faithful enjoy his effort and passion but his solo pressing and determination to chase after the ball harms the side’s defensive shape, something that becomes apparent when the opposition play passes between the lines with ease.
Bruno Fernandes has a lack of positional awareness
In the recent fixture against West Ham at Old Trafford, the 27-year-old started at right central midfield but it didn’t take long for him to move into the number ten role before, ultimately, moving onto the flanks after the half-time break. Towards the last 15 to 20 minutes of the match, he played as a central midfielder he dropped into the defensive midfield position to achieve time and space in possession and look to push the side up the pitch.
Some may view these positional shifts as a positive, preventing the opposition from man-marking him and allowing him to be influential in each area and phase of the game. On the other hand, you could argue that his lack of discipline and awareness to his specific position causes more harm than good, as his team-mates have to cover for him defensively and are unsure whether to commit from their positions or not.
Given how Bruno Fernandes is allowed to roam around the pitch freely, the signs are unfortunately not there that he is given the licence to do this from the manager, as one of the players in the team are not stepping into his position or the side are not limiting the space left behind, with United conceding a lot of goals on the counter and through the middle of the pitch.
Cristiano Ronaldo now the main man
Bruno Fernandes was considered the go to man when the side needed a moment of magic after he joined the club. However, things have changed for him since the return of Cristiano Ronaldo and his influence on matches is decreasing week by week.
United cannot accommodate two luxury players in Rangnick’s system, with the team struggling to confidently keep hold of possession as well as be effective on the counterattack. This should have been picked up on before the pair had reunited together at club football, as the two big name players do not start with each other for Portugal.
It’s a difficult situation to analyse, with Ronaldo playing as a poacher and wanting the team to play to his strengths, which is through a direct approach of constant crosses into the penalty area and through balls into his feet. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes is known to make runs behind the defence like a striker and likens himself to a goalscorer rather than a playmaker.
United’s issues currently lie deeper than both Fernandes and Ronaldo, as they have talented players on the flanks in Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford as well as Paul Pogba in the middle of the pitch. The problem is that these players do not compliment one another in terms of their strengths and there are huge questions on each player’s defensive contribution.
If Rangnick is preparing a starting line-up based on individual quality, for the team to achieve good performances and results consistently, then he will have to sit one of Bruno Fernandes or Cristiano Ronaldo out.
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