Bruno Fernandes has been labelled as a ‘set-piece merchant’ by rival – and bitter – fans after his destructive impact for Manchester United in the 2025-26 season.
However, the true assessment of the 31-year-old Manchester United captain’s role as the Red Devils’ chief playmaker is well beyond his influence from set-pieces.
Whether it is a penalty, a corner-kick or a free-kick, there is no denying that Bruno Fernandes can produce magic from a dead ball or a set-piece when it is needed.
But the noise from Fernandes’ detractors is not enough to smother the major influence he had had from open play during the 2025-26 campaign at Old Trafford.
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Bruno Fernandes during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford in 2026 in Manchester, England.
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A key Bruno Fernandes stat dismantles the debate around his Man Utd numbers when it comes to set-pieces
Statman Dave on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, reinforced how effective Bruno Fernandes has truly been for Manchester United this season.
Fernandes’ performances on the naked eye speak volumes for any United fan who has witnessed his superb run of form under Michael Carrick in recent months.
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But Statman Dave shared that the Man Utd and Portugal midfielder has created the most chances in the Premier League in the 2025-26 season from open play alone.
The eye-opening stat excludes Fernandes’ impact from set-pieces, with the United skipper producing 66 chances outside of dead-ball opportunities for his side.
It is easy to take cheap shots at the Portugal international, considering he has been the standout Man Utd player in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at the Red Devils.
However, the numbers simply do not lie for how effective the Portuguese maestro has been for the Red Devils during the 2025-26 Premier League season.
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What do you think? Will Bruno Fernandes shatter the Premier League assist record?
Can he do it?!
Bruno assist latest
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Bruno Fernandes’ creative influence for Man Utd is not going unnoticed ahead of the Leeds United match
The Premier League’s official website highlighted the numbers behind one of the ‘most creative seasons’ that Fernandes has been able to pull off at Man Utd so far.
Fernandes has 16 Premier League assists alone in 28 matches and the Portugal midfielder is projected to end the current campaign with 21 assists to his name.
If the Man Utd captain pulled off the aforementioned feat, he would eclipse both Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry for the all-time assist record in a single season.
Outside of the assist record, the Premier League spotlighted that Fernandes is the clear frontrunner – by some distance – when it comes to the most chances created.
Fernandes has created an eye-watering 101 chances (including set-pieces) and three players sit behind him in a distant second with 58 chances created each.
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