With the arrival of new signings, “on and off the pitch leader Bruno Fernandes” is expected to shine even brighter this season, says Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim.
Last season, amid Manchester United’s struggles, Bruno Fernandes stood out as a rare bright spot. Looking ahead, Amorim still sees the Portuguese midfielder as the team’s leader both on and off the field. And with the added support from fresh arrivals, he believes Fernandes will reach new heights this season.
Fernandes has already started showing signs of that spark. In a pre-season match against West Ham in Chicago on Saturday, the midfielder scored both goals in United’s 2-1 win.
At MetLife Stadium, his first came from the penalty spot in the 5th minute. His second, in the 52nd, was a stunning strike from outside the box.
After last season’s impressive performances, there were rumors of a possible exit. Saudi club Al Hilal reportedly made a tempting offer. While Fernandes didn’t immediately dismiss it, the 30-year-old ultimately chose to remain at Old Trafford.
His decision to stay has given Amorim renewed hope, as he builds his vision for the upcoming season around him.
“It was very clear last season—his goals, his assists, everything showed his value,” said the coach.
“And now, with more (effective) players in the squad—as we’ve seen in this tour—I think there are more players around to support him. That’s a good thing. He’s our leader, and that’s hugely important. Not just on the pitch, but off it too.”
Last season, Fernandes was often deployed deeper in midfield. But against West Ham, Amorim pushed him further up the field, playing him ahead of Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo, with new signing Matheus Cunha joining the attack.
This setup gave a glimpse into Amorim’s tactical plan for the new season.
“It’s not possible for him to play in every position. Last season, I sometimes felt forced to play him deeper to help us control possession during build-ups. But in doing so, we missed his presence near the opponent’s box.”
“He leads by example. He works incredibly hard. He’s everywhere on the pitch. Sometimes, he even plays through pain.”
Amorim does acknowledge that Fernandes’ relentless drive can occasionally work against him.
“One of the problems is that sometimes he gets frustrated and loses focus from his main task. At times, he wants to help his teammates so much that it leads to mistakes—and trying to help everyone isn’t always the best decision. He needs to wait for the ball in the right situations.”
“These are traits you often see in true leaders. But even leaders need support. I believe this season, he’ll get it.”
