The vultures around Manchester United will be calm for a few days as they engineered a second-half comeback to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
It wasn’t a pretty first half from Man Utd, but Crystal Palace’s tiring legs ultimately proved to be their undoing after a midweek trip, as United turned it around with Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee’s goals.
Ruben Amorim will gladly take three points, but the performance was far from a statement one, as many players struggled until Palace started getting tired.
A simple change he can make to take United up another level was clear in the 23rd minute of the game.
Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro of Manchester United applaud the fans after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park on November 30, 2025
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
The perils of the Bruno Fernandes experiment
It is a testament to Bruno Fernandes‘ quality and commitment that he has been thrust into an unfamiliar role but is still managing to make the best of it.
Against Palace as well, his two assists ensured United had their comeback, but they shouldn’t mask an otherwise struggling performance.
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This is not an attack on Fernandes, but rather a critique of Amorim’s choice, as it exposes the worst of his captain, and leaves him gassed to show his best.
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In the 23rd minute against Palace, a misplaced pass saw United lose the ball in the middle of the park.
Fernandes, courtesy of his attacking instincts, maniacally pressed the ball, leaving behind an island of space ahead of United’s defensive box.
A simple forward pass took him out of the game as Casemiro busted a gut to run back, but it was too late.
A goal United have conceded far too often for it to be an individual error almost happened again, as Daichi Kamada found himself on the edge of the box with plenty of space to have a shot.
Kamada’s shot was saved by Senne Lammens, but it came from a position on the pitch where a natural defensive midfielder would have intercepted that cut-back.
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Instead, Fernandes was standing near Joshua Zirkzee after being bypassed in midfield.
Ruben Amorim needs to make Fernandes decision
Not only is Fernandes shackled playing as the defensive midfielder, but it is also leading to a mirage of fewer options in attack than there actually are.
In the absence of Fernandes as a No. 10, just two injuries, to Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, have brought Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee in from the cold.
The duo was key to United’s victory against Palace, but not many Man Utd fans will be comfortable with the prospect of them being undisputed first-choice players.
By pushing Fernandes to the front, he can make space for Kobbie Mainoo alongside Casemiro, while also freeing up his most important player to do what he does at his devastating best.
Fernandes occupying the No. 10 role will also allow United to run a fluid front three of Fernandes-Cunha-Mbeumo, with the Cameroonian’s place taken by Mount during AFCON.
Sesko can continue to offer a traditional striker presence, while Zirkzee stays as the backup option.
It’s a virtuous cycle that can take United up another level as long as Amorim makes that decision.