After being restored to attacking midfield, where he has shone over the past few seasons, Bruno Fernandes has been excelling in Michael Carrick’s opening games.
Manchester United left it late to claim a thrilling 3–2 Premier League victory over Fulham, with Benjamin Šeško netting the winner in stoppage time on Sunday.
The hosts made a positive start, as Amad and Harry Maguire both threatened early, while Senne Lammens was called into action at the other end. United took the lead just before the 20-minute mark when Casemiro powered a header into the net from Bruno Fernandes’ free kick at the back post.
Holding a 1–0 advantage at half-time, United were pushed hard by a resurgent Fulham after the interval. Matheus Cunha doubled the lead with an excellent strike, but the visitors hit back when Raúl Jiménez won and converted a penalty. In added time, Kevin produced a superb effort to draw Fulham level at 2–2.
With the match seemingly heading for a draw, substitute Šeško had the final say, firing home a late winner to secure all three points. The victory completed a perfect three-from-three start for Michael Carrick and kept United inside the Premier League’s top four.
Bruno Fernandes’ chance of winning Player of the Year
Bruno Fernandes notched two assists in the victory over Fulham, his fourth under Carrick, and his 12th of the season, five clear of Rayan Cherki in second.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Gary Lineker discussed the players in the running for Player of the Year, touching on the Portuguese midfielder’s chances of winning the award.
“Bruno [Fernandes] is now playing a little bit further forward; he got himself a couple of assists. I was talking a bit earlier with the lads about who the frontrunners for Footballer of the Year are.”
I mean, it’s the first of February, it’s a little bit early, but if Manchester United continue to go really well, and Bruno, I mean, two more assists today, that’s five goals and 12 assists in the Premier League. Who else would you think? Obviously, [Erling] Haaland, if he starts scoring again, which he will, Declan Rice, Gabriel, he’s a fantastic defender.
“So, there’s no one obvious at the moment, but he’s a bloody good footballer, you know, Bruno Fernandes.”
How do Man Utd replace Bruno Fernandes?
Fernandes is now eight assists off tying Thierry Henry’s assist record for one season, setting up 20 goals in the 2002/03 season.
Fernandes has undoubtedly been the best signing in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, and has been the club’s best player since joining the side in January 2020, scoring 67 and assisting 63 in 216 league appearances.
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Reports indicate that the club captain has become disillusioned with the project in Manchester and could seek a move away after the World Cup in the summer.
While a like-for-like replacement for the 31-year-old would be near impossible, it has been this season that if the midfielder has a very rare off day, it’s not the end of the world, as has been the case in the past. The likes of Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad in the side mean that Fernandes no longer has to single-handedly drag his side to victory.
Fernandes’ contract reportedly contains a clause that the Portuguese maestro can join a non-Premier League club this summer for around £57 million, and with his value only going to decrease from now, INEOS may find it the right time to let the club’s captain leave, without the trophy cabinet that his performances deserved at Manchester United.
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