Bruno Fernandes is without a doubt United’s finest player since signing in January 2020. In trying circumstances, the Portuguese midfielder regularly motivates Man United with important goals and assists.
Even though Neville expressed his respect for the Portugal international, he chastised him for not holding his ground during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham.
The player should focus on his energy instead of wandering over the pitch, according to former United defender Neville, who made this statement on Sky Bet’s Stick to Football podcast.
“Repeated pass patterns and combinations are seen in any team that is anything at all,” he stated. Bruno Fernandes comes to mind. I saw him on Sunday, and he is undoubtedly the best player in terms of skill, but he is also incredibly popular. It seems like someone is telling him to go do what he wants.
Bruno Fernandes is not that kind of guy, in my opinion. I believe that Ten Hag is giving him the freedom to go everywhere, which actually means you can never have a combination or a pattern when you have your main midfield player everywhere on the pitch. If Pep Guardiola sees a player play out of position for a minute or two, he will be on the sidelines telling the player to get back into his position.
It feels almost exactly like twenty years ago when your number ten was authorised to play. That’s no longer the case; now, you have to fit into an attacking shape, a pattern system, and a combination. That’s the part where, in my opinion, Bruno is told he needs to be able to move everywhere. I never see Ten Hag approaching him and urging him to reposition himself.
Man United ended up tying 2-2 with Tottenham at Old Trafford after giving away the lead twice. This was a game they should have won.
Under the new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, manager Erik ten Hag is under increasing pressure to turn around the season.