'Perfect captain' Fernandes 'sometimes needs to trust team-mates'

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is well aware that he can rely on Bruno Fernandes to step up when the team needs him. However, he hopes the Portuguese captain can "trust" his teammates more, fostering a stronger sense of collective responsibility.

Coach Amorim's praise stems from Fernandes' hat-trick in Manchester United's 4-1 Europa League victory over Real Sociedad at home. Fernandes is a player who both earns praise and attracts criticism, often polarizing opinions with his performances.

Fernandes' captaincy was previously condemned by former Manchester United captain Gary Neville, stemming from Manchester United's 0-7 thrashing by Liverpool in March 2023. More recently, another legendary club figure and captain, Roy Keane, also criticized Fernandes' performance in his usual blunt manner, and mocked claims that things would be worse this season without Fernandes, retorting, "How much worse could it be?" demonstrating the high expectations placed on the team.

Currently, Manchester United are 14th in the league and heading towards their worst league performance since being relegated in the 1973-74 season. However, Fernandes is the team's top scorer by a significant margin with 15 goals, with no other teammate reaching double figures. Fernandes has scored in 12 games this season, and in 8 of those games his contribution was crucial, turning losses into draws and draws into wins, highlighting his importance to the team's results.

Amorim said: "He is always there when we need him. He can carry the ball forward, he can score goals. He is the perfect captain for our team, and we need to help him win titles." In the past month, Fernandes scored the team's goal against Arsenal and the equalizing goal in the FA Cup match against Fulham, which they eventually lost on penalties. He also scored a brilliant free-kick to help Manchester United salvage a point from their game against Everton, after they seemed destined to lose.

Fernandes' latest performance rescued his team, who were at one point behind against Real Sociedad, and the team knows that only victory can maintain their hopes of winning a trophy this season and securing a European place next season. Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes said on TNT Sports: "He has been outstanding for the past six or seven weeks. He is playing a little deeper now than as a number 10. He is leading this team to success," indicating a shift in his role and influence.

Another advantage of Fernandes is that he rarely gets injured. Among Manchester United's non-goalkeeper players, only his Portuguese compatriot Diogo Dalot has made more appearances this season than his 43. However, Amorim says there is a flaw in Fernandes: he often leaves his position in search of possession, disrupting Manchester United's team formation, which can create vulnerabilities.

Amorim believes the solution must come from Fernandes himself. He said: "We know that sometimes he gets frustrated. We know that he is very eager to win, and when things are not going well, he changes positions and chases the ball. Sometimes he needs to trust his teammates," emphasizing the need for a balance between individual drive and team cohesion.