Manchester United will face Tottenham in the Europa League final on Wednesday and will be hoping it is a more successful night than last time the Red Devils reached a European final.
After a poor campaign, Europe is the one saving grace for Manchester United and it culminates in a must-win cup final against Tottenham at San Mames in Bilbao.
This is a third Europa League final for United, with a victory in 2017 over Ajax with Jose Mourinho in charge, followed by the disappointment that was 2021’s defeat to Villarreal.
It was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who took United to the final in Gdansk, and after 120 minutes and penalties, the Spanish side came out on top 11-10 in the shootout with David de Gea vilified for failing to save a single spot kick.
Andre Onana will be desperate to avoid a similar disappointment on Wednesday, as he looks to perform better than he has this season.
Following this game, Marcus Rashford passionately promised that United would be back and win big trophies, a promise he is now not at the club to keep this week.
Thinking back to the final in 2021 and there is one United player who will be aiming for a much improved outing when German referee Felix Zwayer blows his whistle on Wednesday night.
Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images
Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images
Bruno Fernandes was poor in Manchester United’s 2021 Europa League final defeat
Over the past five years that Bruno Fernandes has been at United, he has been the club’s star player and often performs far beyond the level of his teammates.
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However, this was not the case in the 2021 Europa League final, as the Portuguese midfielder’s final performance was disappointing, as his numbers from the game demonstrate below.
Bruno Fernandes’ stats from the 2021 Europa League final
Stat Vs. Villarreal
Minutes 120
Goals 0
Assists 0
Chances created 0
Passing accuracy 85 per cent
Shots on target 0/2
Touches 78
Accurate crossing 1/5
Tackles won 0/2
Dribbled past 4
Interceptions 1
Duels won 4/16
It is rare for Fernandes to be quite so invisible in a big game for United, and his tears after losing the final suggest that he was fully aware that his performance had not done himself justice.
Fernandes was one of United’s biggest underperformers in the game, in which Scott McTominay stepped up with a crucial assist for Edinson Cavani’s goal.
However, now Fernandes has the chance at redemption.
Bruno Fernandes has a redemption chance four years on for Manchester United
The Fernandes of 2025 is one which is vastly different to 2021, with the Portuguese magnifico wearing the captain’s armband and leading by example, as he regularly puts the team on his back with 19 goals and 19 assists already this season.
Fernandes has been United’s main man in the Europa League with the most goals in the team and also the highest average match rating as shown by SofaScore.
An infographic showing Manchester United's stats and road to the Europa League final 2024/25.
An infographic created by Sofascore.
The Fernandes of now has already led United to two trophies in the League Cup and the FA Cup, while he has also evolved as a player, rounding out his game and becoming a real leader which despite wearing the armband in Gdansk, he was not.
This is Fernandes’ golden chance to redeem himself and in doing so expedite the club’s project which he signed a new contract last summer to be a part of.
If he is key in the final, it could very well secure Fernandes’ place as a modern day club legend.