Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has admitted that he uses “dead zones”, which he likes to call “referees’ zones”, to create space for both himself and his teammates on the pitch.
Speaking exclusively to The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, Fernandes stressed that as a playmaker tasked with creating chances and finding goalscoring opportunities for others, the main challenge is always finding space.
He told Crafton. “It’s about finding the unoccupied areas or sometimes the dead zones where no one can see you or mark you.”
“Or, if they mark you, they will create more space in the middle of the field for other people.”
Asked how he achieves this so excellently, Fernandes said he uses umpires, an individual the opposition doesn’t mark and doesn’t take into account during games, to find small spaces where he can end up hurting the opposition.
According to the 28-year-old, working under the instructions of his coaches, whether it be him or the world no. 10, a winger or a forward takes positions depending on the position of the referee.
The United do not. 8 noted that in matches where Mike Dean is the referee, the Portuguese find it difficult to find space, as the match official tends to run in the center to get a better view of the match.
There are numerous instances, noted by Crafton, in which Fernandes seemed to use this clever tactic.
In the Red Devils’ triumphant victory against bitter rivals Arsenal, the Portuguese international seemed to follow Paul Tierney’s movements to evade his markers in midfield.
Crafton reports on this unusual tactic and how it paid off against the Gunners “for United’s first two goals in a 3–1 win, he appears to receive possession in areas otherwise occupied only by the referee”.
Fernandes, who was particularly impressive against the north London opposition, provided a brilliant assist for Marcus Rashford, United’s first and second of the game from that position.
United supporters hope the tactic continues to pay off. It has certainly helped the player see more of himself in recent weeks after a disastrous last season.
