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Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville thinks that Bruno Fernandes’ influence could shift if Michael Carrick makes one major tactical overhaul at Manchester United.
Bruno Fernandes thrived under Red Devils boss Michael Carrick after the 32-year-old Portuguese midfielder was shifted into the No 10 role for Manchester United.
The United captain had been dropped into the two-man midfield pivot under Ruben Amorim during the first half of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
Fernandes’ stunning run of form during the second half of last season saw the Portugal international break the Premier League assist record for a single campaign.
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Manchester United's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Senne Lammens, Manchester United's Moroccan defender #03 Noussair Mazraoui, Manchester United's Slovenian striker #30 Benjamin Sesko, Manchester United's French defender #15 Leny Yoro, Manchester United's English midfielder #37 Kobbie Mainoo (front row from L to R) Manchester United's Brazilian striker #10 Matheus Cunha, Manchester United's Cameroonian midfielder #19 Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United's Belgian midfielder #18 Youri Tielemans, Manchester United's Argentinian defender #06 Lisandro Martinez, Manchester United's Danish defender #13 Patrick Dorgu and Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes poses for a team photo before the UEFA Champions League football match between Manchester United and Sabah FK at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on September 10, 2026.
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Gary Neville feels that Michael Carrick could tweak his formation and Bruno Fernandes’ role would be eliminated
Michael Carrick threw out Ruben Amorim’s polarising Manchester United tactical system in favour of the tactics that he had previously deployed at Middlesbrough.
United will start in a 4-2-3-1 formation under Red Devils legend Carrick before switching to different structural set-ups during certain moments of play in a match.
Speaking on The Overlap, Gary Neville has suggested that Carrick’s tactics for United could pivot from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-3-3 tactical set-up in the future.
The 51-year-old former right-back feels that the 4-3-3 dynamic would allow Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo to play alongside one another.
“How do we, Manchester United, stop conceding goals? We’re going to play that from, because the only thing that I can see happening eventually, being honest with you, is that ultimately, we’ll have to drop one of that front four,” Neville said.
“And that we’ll end up having to play three in midfield and be a lot more sort of what. It could end up being Tielemans, Baleba and Mainoo and almost add an extra midfield player in.”
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Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville during the Premier League match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor on April 22, 2026 in Burnley, England.
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Gary Neville explains the knock-on effect for Bruno Fernandes’ position if Man Utd used a 4-3-3 formation
United legend Neville has admitted that Fernandes would be shifted out of a central role to a wider position, which would not be “ideal” in his mind.
“Now that means that sometimes Bruno then has to go to a side, which I know has happened before,” he added.
“It’s not ideal, because I think he’s better in that number 10 spot. But how do we, without changing shape, become more solid till we don’t concede goals? We’re conceding goals every single game?”
Fernandes’ exploits from last season for United recently saw the former Sporting CP midfielder make the 30-man shortlist for France Football’s Ballon d’Or award.