If it wasn’t for Bruno Fernandes where would Man United be? Michael Carrick is certainly glad to have the Old Trafford great available for selection.placeholder image
If it wasn’t for Bruno Fernandes where would Man United be? Michael Carrick is certainly glad to have the Old Trafford great available for selection. | Getty Images
If it wasn’t for Bruno Fernandes where would Man United be? Michael Carrick is certainly glad to have the Old Trafford great available for selection.
Man United would be in a considerably worse off position if it wasn’t for Bruno Fernandes.
The 31-year old has taken his goals to over 100, his appearances to over 300 and his overall goal contributions to over 200 this season as his numbers continue to impress and add to the leadership that the Portugal international displays on a weekly basis. He is one of several players to benefit from Michael Carrick being appointed as manager with a new, more advanced role seeing the shackles being removed and defensive duties being passed onto a pairing of Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo.
Michael Carrick reacts to Bruno Fernandes transfer speculation
If United are to qualify for the Champions League, Fernandes will be key despite uncertainty over where the skipper will be playing his football next season. According to Carrick though, he remains an integral part of the Red Devil’s team, via the manager’s pre-match conference ahead of the visit of Fulham: “He had a huge impact straight away in so many ways. You could see the passion, you could see how much he wanted to do well. Straight away, you saw the quality and that’s carried on all the way through.
“His consistency of performances, his level of performances, his willingness to always put himself out there and physically being able to do it, there’s a lot to credit him for in that respect.
“We all want to win things, we all want to get better, we want to improve as a team, we want to be successful – that’s something we want to work towards together. But Bruno’s been fantastic since I’ve been here, he was fantastic when I was here before. So, I’ve got nothing but good things to say about him.”
Can United live without Fernandes?
Fernandes had every right to be frustrated at the way things were going under his compatriot, however, a change of manager and formation might be enough to persuade the Saudi Arabia-linked playmaker to stay at Old Trafford after all.
He can’t quite write a blank cheque when it comes to any new contract or wage demands, but how much would it cost to replace him? This transfer window might have been quiet, but United will be expected to go again in the summer and have already been linked with some exciting talents.
In midfield, Elliot Anderson or Adam Wharton could be perfect replacements for Casemiro alongside Kobbie Mainoo as well as dovetailing perfectly with Fernandes. The most exciting link is to RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande though. If United managed to land one of the England midfielders and Diomande, Fernandes might yet see his dream of lifting the Premier League title become a reality.
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