Fernandes' Trophies, Assist Record, and Future
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has created 29 'big chances' so far this season.
Since joining Manchester United in 2020, Bruno Fernandes has yet to win the Premier League or Champions League with the club. He has, however, secured a couple of domestic cups under manager Erik ten Hag. If United finish third this season, it will mark only the second time they have placed higher than that during Fernandes' tenure at Old Trafford.
This represents a modest trophy haul for a player widely regarded as one of United's best signings since the retirement of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. Many argue Fernandes deserves recognition among the club's finest players in the Premier League era.
On Friday, Fernandes was named the Football Writers' Association's footballer of the year. Despite this, he does not prioritize individual awards.
"I don't see it that one player is better than another because he wins more trophies. Not every time the best player in the world is the one that wins the Ballon d'Or.
"I want to win trophies. I want to be recognised by the many good things I did for the club, for bringing something back to the club, not just my individual numbers."
Although United are unlikely to win a trophy this season, Fernandes has several significant milestones ahead. He requires just one more assist to equal the Premier League record of 20 assists in a single campaign, a record jointly held by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and former Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne.
Fernandes currently leads the Premier League assists chart this season with 19, eight clear of Manchester City's Rayan Cherki, with West Ham's Jarrod Bowen in third with 10 assists.
Breaking this record is clearly important to Fernandes, who is expected to be a key member of Portugal's World Cup squad this summer. One of his Manchester United teammates recently remarked that Fernandes might have taken a shot against Brentford rather than assist striker Benjamin Sesko, but Fernandes dismissed this notion.
Fernandes is also the favourite to win the prestigious PFA Players' Player of the Year award, which both Henry and De Bruyne have won twice.
Despite the absence of major trophies, the assist record and another player of the year award could cement Fernandes' status as one of the Premier League's most creative players.
Assists Don’t Always Lead to Trophies
The term 'assist king' often implies a creative playmaker. However, the reality is more nuanced.
In the past five seasons, Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has led the assists chart twice, while strikers Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) and Harry Kane (then Tottenham) have each topped it once. None of these players are typically classified as creators in the style of playmaker Kevin de Bruyne, who has led the assists chart four times.
A more apt comparison for Fernandes in terms of trophies won might be Cesc Fabregas during his Arsenal tenure. Over seven years as a regular first-team player until 2011, Fabregas led the assists chart twice. The most significant domestic trophy he won during that period was the FA Cup. It was only after returning to England with Chelsea, following a stint at Barcelona, that Fabregas won the Premier League.
During the Premier League's early years, Southampton's Matt le Tissier and Liverpool's Steve McManaman both topped the assists chart but never won a league title.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard led the assists chart in 2013-14 and won the PFA Player of the Year award in 2006 and the Football Writers' Association equivalent in 2009. While he inspired Liverpool to a memorable Champions League victory in 2005, Gerrard never secured a league title. Nonetheless, his status as a Premier League great is undisputed.
Future Prospects for Manchester United and Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes has scored 106 goals in 324 appearances for Manchester United.
Regardless of individual awards, Manchester United supporters will want assurance that their key player remains at the club.
Fernandes has one year remaining on his contract, with the club holding an option for an additional season.
After declining a substantial financial offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal last summer, there was speculation Fernandes might leave if United failed to qualify for the Champions League. With qualification now secured, Fernandes is reportedly interested in discussing a contract extension. The club is open to negotiations but intends to maintain its wage structure.
Manchester United believes it holds a strong position, given Fernandes will be 33 when his contract expires if the option is exercised.
A key factor is a release clause set at 65 million euros (£56.23 million), which would allow Fernandes to join a club outside England if triggered within a specified timeframe.
Fernandes is reportedly motivated by the challenges ahead at Old Trafford. However, how this motivation might change if the release clause is activated and the club fails to meet his expectations remains uncertain.
Speaking prior to Manchester United's Premier League match at Sunderland, interim head coach Michael Carrick expressed confidence in Fernandes' commitment.
"With Bruno, you can see he's happy and he's playing some fantastic football, maybe as good as he's played - and he's had really good spells here,"
"He's got a big end to the season here and a big summer, of course. But, yes, as a football club, we love having him here. He's a big part of what we do."
Tactical Changes Boost Fernandes' Chance Creation
Under former manager Rúben Amorim, Fernandes partnered Casemiro in a midfield two within a 5-2-3 formation. His role involved significant responsibility in build-up play, helping the team advance the ball.
Amorim encouraged passing sequences culminating in direct through balls for attackers and wing-backs making runs behind the defense.
Fernandes was often tasked with playing long passes from deep positions. While this strategy created dangerous opportunities, it required more than a single long through ball to convert possession into goals.
Michael Carrick has since adopted a more traditional and defensively solid 4-2-3-1 formation that promotes fast counter-attacks. Fernandes operates as the number 10 in this system, supported by Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro, Bryan Mbeumo or Amad Diallo, as well as Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.
Positioned higher on the pitch, closer to teammates and with more passing options, Fernandes is able to generate chances more frequently. The reduced physical demands of this role also allow him to maintain the energy needed to execute precise passes late in games.
Fernandes' recent assists reveal three consistent patterns.
First, several assists come from right-footed crosses from the right side of the pitch. These crosses occur both during open play and set-piece situations, such as corners or free-kicks.
For example, a corner may be cleared, but Fernandes, now in open play, can still assist Casemiro with a deep outswinging cross from the right flank.
Opposing teams tend to drop closer to goal when Fernandes prepares to cross, but his outswinging crosses create space for teammates to head the ball.
Casemiro's aerial ability has been notable, with right-sided outswingers from Fernandes leading to goals against Fulham, Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Leeds in recent weeks. Fernandes has assisted Casemiro six times this season, the highest number of assists to a single teammate in the league.
Fernandes' free-kicks from the right have also assisted Casemiro, demonstrating a strong partnership near the near post.
Second, some assists originate from Fernandes starting centrally as a number 10 before drifting into wide areas. This movement challenges defenders regarding marking responsibilities, often leaving Fernandes unmarked.
His positioning creates overloads in wide areas, and with time and space, Fernandes has delivered impressive assists.
For instance, Fernandes moves into an unusual wide left position, causing uncertainty among Aston Villa's defenders about who should mark him. From this position, he plays an early through ball to assist Cunha.
From the right flank, Fernandes' dribbling draws defenders closer to their goal, opening space for cut-backs into the area in front of the defense, resulting in assists against Chelsea and Fulham.
Lastly, under Carrick's system, Fernandes has exploited transitional moments by attacking through the middle against disorganized defenses.
He carries the ball forward, holding it to commit defenders before passing to a teammate in space.
Fernandes often feints a pass to one player, then delivers to another, deceiving defenders.
For example, Fernandes angles his body and fakes a pass to Mbeumo on the right, drawing Brentford's defenders across, before finding Sesko, who scores from the left.
Carrick's tactical approach suits Fernandes' strengths, while the captain's ability to hold the ball and delay passes likely developed during his deeper, slower role under Amorim earlier this season.
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