Manchester United are a club that has endured an unthinkable period without Premier League glory, especially after the success endured under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Red Devils have now gone 13 years without a title in England’s top-flight, with countless managers unable to end such a drought at Old Trafford throughout recent seasons.
Ruben Amorim was the last boss to try his luck in Manchester, but was dismissed from the role back in January after once again being unable to mount a charge for the division’s top four.
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick celebrates after the match
As a result, Michael Carrick has been handed the responsibility to lead the side until the end of the campaign, with a view to securing the manager’s job on a permanent basis.
If the 44-year-old is to secure the job beyond the summer, the form of one player within his ranks is likely to play a huge role, with his form this season being nothing short of remarkable.
The stats behind Bruno Fernandes’ success in 2025/26
Attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes is a player who has hugely benefited from Carrick’s arrival at United, after previously operating in a deep-lying position under Amorim’s guidance.
The Portuguese international was forced to operate in a deep-lying midfield position, something which no doubt contributed to his struggles in the opening months of the season.
Bruno Fernandes
However, the arrival of the temporary manager has reignited his phenomenal form at Theatre of Dreams, with the boss redeploying him in a more natural number ten position.
The 31-year-old has now registered 23 combined goals and assists this term, with no player managing to achieve more throughout the current campaign.
He’s registered ten combined goals and assists in his last ten league outings, with the number eight undoubtedly cementing himself as one of the club’s most influential players.
As a result, Bruno’s contributions in the final third have played a huge part in allowing the Red Devils to once again battle for a place in the division’s top four come the end of May.
The United star who’s now becoming the best signing since Bruno
United have made some huge moves in the transfer market over the last couple of years, subsequently splashing over £800m on new additions since the summer of 2022.
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A number of their additions haven't lived up to expectations.
However, as seen by the 15th-place finish in the 2024/25 season, the additions made in the transfer market have been unsuccessful to date, resulting in millions of pounds worth of debt.
Such losses didn’t deter the hierarchy from splashing the cash during the recent summer window, as seen by the £200m spending spree on a new attacking trio.
INEOS secured the signatures of the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, in an attempt to take the Red Devils back up the Premier League table.
Benjamin-Sesko
The additions have had mixed receptions over the last few months, with former United star turned pundit Gary Neville having stern words to say about the latter of the aforementioned trio.
Speaking back in November, the 51-year-old stated that Sesko looked “miles off it” after the hierarchy forked out a reported £74m for his signature during the summer window.
However, the arrival of Carrick has seen the Slovenian reach the next level at Old Trafford, with his goalscoring tally in recent weeks being nothing short of remarkable.
The 22-year-old has now scored five times since the appointment of the temporary boss back in mid January, with the majority of his strikes coming from the substitutes bench.
Sesko
As a result of his recent goalscoring spree, Sesko now sits on a staggering nine goals from just 13 league starts, with such a record the joint best of any player in the squad.
He’s also managed to place 53% of his shots on target this campaign - the highest of any player in the squad - further demonstrating his attacking ability in the final third.
Benjamin Sesko - PL stats (2025/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Games played
Goals & assists
Shot on target accuracy
Shots on target
Aerials won
Aerial success rate
Touches in 18-yard box
Long ball accuracy
The Slovenian has certainly benefitted from the form of Bruno behind him, with the Portuguese international teeing up four of the striker’s goals this season.
The aforementioned partnership has certainly produced the goods more than anyone expected, with the pair likely holding the key to any qualification for the Champions League.
Both players have cemented themselves as the club’s most influential players, with their efforts in the final third there for all to see in recent months under Carrick.
Sesko has certainly provided value for the £74m they paid for his signature, with the 22-year-old now appearing to be the immediate and long-term solution to their centre forward issues.
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