Ruben Amorim might be wasting Manchester United's most influential player
Man Utd made a bold tactical change in the summer and it is hard to know whether it has paid off.
When Manchester United backed Ruben Amorim in the summer transfer window, they allowed him to take a huge risk with the balance of the first-team squad.
United moved quickly to sign priority target Matheus Cunha from Wolves, but they weren't done there. Amorim wanted to add even more firepower to his forward line and pushed to sign Bryan Mbeumo as well. An agreement was finally reached with Brentford, and United had added two specialist attacking midfielders to their side.
There is absolutely no question that they are both excellent additions who have enjoyed bright starts to the new season, but their success has come at a cost for one player. The player who just so happens to be United’s most influential: Bruno Fernandes.
Amorim might be wasting Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes is still as important as ever to the Manchester United side, though it is hard to argue he is quite as influential to their success so far this season. He has only scored two goals in 11 matches this campaign, one of which was from the penalty spot, with the attacking pressure now on the shoulders of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha instead.
The 31-year-old experienced a rather low-key start to the season with penalty misses against Fulham and Brentford, but appeared to turn a corner with his masterclass against Liverpool last month. He set up the winning goal with an exceptional cross into the box for Harry Maguire, while he has also grabbed assists from corners in the last two matches against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur. He has also created more chances than any other player in the Premier League so far this season.
Fernandes has proven himself capable of influencing a game in this new, deeper role, and while that might be his long-term position under Ruben Amorim, there is also a feeling he has been moved there a little too soon. The United captain reverted to his favoured No.10 role over the weekend as Portugal booked their place at the World Cup with an emphatic 9-1 victory over Armenia.
Fernandes was the star of that win as he netted a hat-trick, of which two were penalties, and assisted Joao Neves for the first goal of his own hat-trick in the match. It is important to note the quality of the opposition, but it shouldn't detract too much from the influence he had.
As well as the goal contributions, Fernandes created eight chances in the match, produced five accurate crosses, and finished the game with an 85 percent pass accuracy. It was a timely reminder of the world-class talent he possesses in the attacking midfield role and an indication Ruben Amorim's side might be even better if they had him further up the field.
Fernandes has still enjoyed a great season so far, though United might have been better off utilising a fluid front three of Cunha, Mbeumo, and Fernandes and using the £66 million they spent on Benjamin Sesko to sign a central midfielder instead.
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