After a dismal previous campaign, Manchester United decided to make drastic changes and, for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, hired a manager who is at the top of his game.
And the appointment seems to be working its magic after an initial period of difficulty with the players much more in tune with their new manager’s style of play.
And that style is a far cry from what was practiced when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge. The Norwegian relied more on a counter attacking stance and with a much weaker team he worked well for the first two seasons.
bruno the star
But when the team exceeded its potential, things quickly fell apart and a change was necessary. The team is now much more modern in its approach with confidence in possession, team pressure drills and quick transitions.
One player who has yet to reach the dizzying heights he reached when he first arrived in the Premier League is Bruno Fernandes.
In his first half of the season, the Portuguese was an instant success as he scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 14 Premier League games and such was his impact that he became the club’s Player of the Season.
OFFICIAL: Bruno Fernandes will miss Manchester United’s Premier League match against Aston Villa after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season against West Ham. ????
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) October 30, 2022
The former Sporting Lisbon star didn’t stop there as he produced another gluttonous goalscoring campaign scoring 18 goals and 11 assists in 36 games to be named Player of the Season once again.
And with a stronger squad and the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, the responsibility for scoring goals was gradually reduced and with Ten Hag at the helm preferring team combinations, it has been further reduced.
And that has led to fewer goals and assists, something critics frequently use and point to during their bawling attacks on the 28-year-old.
Bruno, the fading star?
Something Fernandes needs to master with the Dutch coach is the art of patience and knowing when to go for ambitious passes.
This United team no longer constantly needs the attacking playmaker to test their Hollywood balls each and every time.
Statistics sometimes don’t tell the whole picture. No 8 United have scored twice so far this campaign and excelled in defensive transitions, but his turnover stats are not the best read.
He lost possession 11 times in total against West Ham last weekend and often his fumbles or fancy plays are picked up by the opposition and they launch a counter-attack.
Both West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur had scoring opportunities earlier after Fernandes’ loose touch. It was also a recurring problem last season.
Erik ten Hag talks about the return of Donny van de Beek and his role in the team ⬇
“We need goals, and Donny is really good in goal positions” ???? pic.twitter.com/CC6MSYnpcj
— Man United News (@ManUtdMEN) October 28, 2022
The Portuguese international turns the ball over an average of 15.3 times per game, the most of any United player so far this season. And that just has to change under Ten Hag.
Can EtH solve Bruno’s puzzle?
His enforced suspension absence against Aston Villa could be a good opportunity for the former Ajax boss to try different combinations in a bid to find a suitable replacement, as Fernandes has simply been outclassed since moving to Manchester.
That’s partly down to his excellent form, coupled with the inability of stars like Donny van de Beek and Fred to show any sort of creative spark when unfurling in his favorite role.
The Premier League match and subsequent EFL Cup tie could be just the break Ten Hag needs to determine his next course of action regarding the 10th position.
There are many things I like about Fernandes, including his leadership skills, hard-working nature and passion, but Ten Hag needs to temper his aggressiveness with composure and Christian Eriksen could be the perfect role model.
Hopefully, under Ten Hag, the attacking midfielder can stop trying to perform solo and instead be part of United’s orchestra as they prepare for what will hopefully be a memorable season.
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