Ruben Amorim has talked about the need for rotation
Ruben Amorim has talked about the need for rotation
Resting your best player when you're trying to establish what your best starting XI is seems nonsensical, but Ruben Amorim might have to do just that over the coming weeks.
After a slow start to the season by his high standards, Bruno Fernandes has started to produce the goals and assists we've come to expect from him at United. But that shouldn't mask what the United boss noted of his captain's performance after the defeat to Nottingham Forest.
"He'd scored one goal, but he was tired with transition," Amorim said. "I could let Bruno Fernandes [stay on], but I felt with Mason Mount, he is also good with set-pieces and can score because he's very technical, and we needed fresh legs.
"If you saw the game: transitions, so if you lose the ball and suffer another goal, it was over. So I used all the substitutions. With a lot of games, I felt Bruno was a little bit tired."
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Removing your best and most creative player when chasing a goal takes character and Amorim should be applauded for noting Fernandes' fatigue and doing what is best for the team by replacing him.
The United head coach has talked a lot in his first few weeks at the club about the need for rotation, as Erik ten Hag did in his final year at United as he looked to keep players fresh amid persistent injury issues. Yet Fernandes seemed to almost be exempt from that policy during Ten Hag's time at the club.
Fernandes played in 59 of United's 62 games in the Dutchman's first season in charge, with Fernandes suspended for the three matches he missed. In Ten Hag's second season Fernandes played in 48 of United's 52 games, missing one through suspension and two through injury. The other game he missed saw him named as an unused substitute against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup third round.
Fernandes has played in every game he's been available for this season, with the only outing he's missed coming due to suspension in the Europa League. Of course, the previous nine games have been overseen by Ruud van Nistelrooy and Amorim, but that means Ten Hag rested the Portuguese for a full game just once in his two-and-a-half years at United.
When asked about Fernandes' workload, Ten Hag said during his first year at the club: “Bruno can cope with load standards that are really high and can take a lot of games.
“He is a very fit player and so important for this team. First as captain, he’s an example on the pitch with the energy he puts in, and for our tactical approach in both the transition moments."
It must be noted that Ten Hag is by no means the only manager to have been so reliant on Fernandes. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rarely afforded him a rest and he was a near ever-present during his time at Sporting.
Fernandes' availability should be applauded and it's only natural to want to use your best player as often as possible. However, with further fixtures being added to the calendar following the Europa League format change, and potentially more to come should United progress in the domestic cup competitions and require a knockout tie Europe, Fernandes needs to be protected.
Resting your best player is always going to be a gamble but if United want Fernandes to be at his best when they need him most then Amorim might need to take that gamble.