Peter Schmeichel singled out the main reason why Bruno Fernandes had a massive influence in Manchester United’s crucial 1-0 win over Chelsea on Saturday.
Bruno Fernandes is now only two Premier League assists shy of tying the record set by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne in a single season, which is currently at 20.
The 31-year-old Manchester United captain has picked up an impressive 18 assists in 30 Premier League matches over the course of the 2025-26 season at Old Trafford.
Fernandes’ latest assist came in Man Utd’s Premier League clash against Chelsea amid the Red Devils’ crucial top-four pursuit on Saturday evening.
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Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto battle for the ball during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in 2026 in London, England.
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
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Peter Schmeichel says Bruno Fernandes’ Man Utd playmaking ability this season came with Michael Carrick’s arrival
Bruno Fernandes played a superb ball to Matheus Cunha and the Portugal international’s teammate fired Manchester United into the lead over Chelsea.
The link-up between Matheus Cunha and Fernandes in the first half was enough to seal all three Premier League points for United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
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Fernandes has now been able to notch up a remarkable 10 Premier League assists in the last 12 matches under the interim Red Devils head coach reign of Michael Carrick.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Peter Schmeichel insisted that Michael Carrick has been a catalyst for Fernandes’ form after the 1-0 win over Chelsea.
“Everything that happens positively for Manchester United, Bruno Fernandes has been involved in,” he said, as per the Premier League’s official website.
“It’s been like that since he came to the club, but it’s no coincidence it’s happening now, under Michael Carrick.”
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Fernandes’ influence had waned earlier in the 2025-26 Premier League season after Ruben Amorim made the decision to drop him into the two-man midfield pivot.
However, Carrick abandoned Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd tactics and deployed Fernandes into the No 10 role under his Red Devils’ formation since his arrival.
“He’s playing in his best position, finding pockets of space and he can deliver the ball,” Schmeichel added.
“He makes things happen.”
Man Utd have opened a three-point lead over fourth-place Aston Villa, but Unai Emery’s men have a Premier League match in hand over the third-place Red Devils.
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