Has 2024/25 been Bruno Fernandes’ best season for Manchester United? – The Conventional Playmaker

Bruno Fernandes was the standout player for United in a goalless Manchester derby. He once again provided an important, and equally sublime assist last night against Lyon in the Europa League Quarter-Final first-leg. He has also been the main source of consistent quality during an otherwise underwhelming season for Manchester United.

This not only highlights how good Fernandes is, but also helps make a strange case of this season, in some way, being Fernandes’ best in a United shirt performance-wise.

Whilst United sit 13th in the Premier League table, suffering their worst season since the league’s inauguration in 1992, Fernandes has maintained the form that many have come to expect since his arrival from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020. He has been a source of goals, and creation, and even sometimes dictated play from a deeper midfield role in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1.

Fernandes has took up two roles in the aforementioned system, those being inside-forward, which most expected him to play upon Amorim’s appointment, and also in the midfield two.

Fernandes offers the ability to bring the ball forward when playing deeper. He has an excellent range of diagonal passes, and through balls. He has good positional sense, often dropping deeper to support the back three against the opposition press. He is adept at creating space in midfield, be that by avoiding pressure in duels, and also dragging pressure away for a teammate on the ball. He can also push forward to support the attack close to goal

When playing as an inside forward, Fernandes is often in close proximity of teammates in and around the penalty-area; he is the perfect player to hand the ball to in the final-third, as his decision making is of top quality. Closer to goal, he creates passing options for midfielders, and is subsequently comfortable receiving the ball in between the lines, before turning and either passing, or shooting.

Summarising his impact during a set of matches since Amorim’s appointment, some of which against opposition in contention for titles, again shows how important he has been with regards to United having any joy this season.

Manchester City (Away, PL: 1-2) – Fernandes covered ground, involving himself defensively and offensively across the pitch. He scored a vital penalty in perhaps United’s best result since Amorim took charge.

Liverpool (Away, PL: 2-2) – Playing in a deeper midfield role, Fernandes, not typically thought of as being a dribbler, was frequently able to avoid tight pressure, and bring the ball forward when dribbling. This was a match United could have won, after having lost the previous four.

Arsenal (Away, FAC: 1-1 AET) – Fernandes’ goal to hand United the initial lead was superb. A quick counter-attack, which benefited from Gabriel slipping, but Alejandro Garnacho cut the ball across with zip, and a lovely strike on the edge of the penalty-area from Fernandes.

Rangers (Home, UEL: 2-1) – Fernandes was creative, providing a nice range of long balls to teammates in space, constantly funneling the ball into the box, and then arrived in the box himself to score from close range.

Real Sociedad (Home, UEL: 4-1) – United were the better side across both legs against Soceidad, threatening against a less physical side. Fernandes scored a clinical hat-trick.

Leicester City (Away, PL: 0-3) – Scored a well-worked goal, and provided two further assists, as United earned three points away from home. But United would then lose the league match that followed to Nottingham Forest. United’s results continue to fluctuate.
Arsenal (Home, PL: 1-1) – A brilliant free-kick to hand United the initial lead, and United managed to create a few chances against Arsenal, who otherwise dominated possession, where United defended deeper.

Lyon (Away, UEL: 2-2) – Played as an inside-forward towards the left, but with licence to move across midfield and attack. Teammates fail to make the most of counter-attacking moves, a number of which ignited by Fernandes. But eventually Joshua Zirkzee headed home a chipped ball across the box from Fernandes. There were some nice passages with substitutes Kobbie Mainoo, and Mason Mount.

Fernandes has largely played well in both roles, and though this has influenced some key results, it offers a conundrum. If Fernandes plays deeper, he is not as close to goal as he would like to be, and there are less connections in attack, unless he pushes forward, and most importantly, United score less. If he pushes forward, it can leave the midfield potentially exposed, regardless of how hard he works off the ball. When Fernandes has started in the front three, there has been far less creativity in deeper areas, and United have struggled to dominate matches. United’s other midfielders, Mainoo, and Mount, aside, do not share the same passing range, and are not as comfortable against pressure.

In the long-term, it may be hard to decide where Fernandes would be best suited. Fernandes is integral to United creating, and scoring, so should perhaps play further forward. Mainoo, and Mount’s returns may play part in this as the season comes to a close. Further reinforcement in the upcoming summer window, where Amorim will have opportunity to assess, experiment, and decide what his side needs, may also influence Fernandes’ place in the XI. The status in the league is not good enough, and new additions are most certainly needed. But there have been subtle signs of improvement in how United build-up attacks since the turn of the year – it simply needs to be built on.

Data should not be used solely on its own to analyse players, including a players creativity, especially when it is blatantly evident just how creative Fernandes is for United when watching matches, but it can help cement a point being made. And in this case, Fernandes has already produced a combined 32 goals, and assists – split evenly, which is impressive, especially for a United side struggling for consistency.

If we look further, Fernandes has averaged 0.35 goals and 0.35 assists per 90 in all competitions, and plays on average 9.27 progressive passes per 90; perhaps a better piece of data for evaluating creativity than chances created, of which Fernandes averages 2.85 per 90.

The output produced by Fernandes in previous seasons was even better, yet what he has achieved so far this season is ultimately telling of how good he has been for an underperforming side, how good he would be for a team doing better, and may make you wonder where United would be without him.

Granted, it has not been smooth sailing for Fernandes. There have been disappointing match results, and United’s captain has been sent off not once, but three times this season.

Nevertheless, Fernandes has provided the goods not only domestically, but in cup competitions. But even at a point in the season where there is more to fight for in Europe, Fernandes has continued to pull his weight, and pull the strings when United have the ball in the league too.

Data: FBref (www.fbref.com)