Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes is reportedly not upset with Ruben Amorim on a personal level, but he’s clearly dissatisfied with the deeper midfield role he’s been assigned.
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The United captain has found it difficult to hit top form this season, which isn’t surprising given the tactical adjustment that’s placed him in a role he’s not entirely comfortable with.
It’s a fresh challenge for Fernandes, who has traditionally operated in a more advanced role where he’s been able to contribute significantly with goals and assists. That hasn’t been the case this term.
Jacobs, speaking on The United Stand, noted that while Fernandes isn’t clashing with the manager, he’s unhappy with the role he’s currently occupying.
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“You have Bruno Fernandes, who I wouldn’t call unhappy with his manager. If anything, they’ve got a positive relationship, he’s the captain of the football club. But he’s unhappy with playing that deeper role.
“So this is where a 4-1-4-1 formation might allow you to play Kobbie Mainoo or Manuel Ugarte in a deeper role, Bruno Fernandes and one of Mbeumo or Cunha.
“And then the other, if it’s Mbeumo, it could be wide right, or alternatively, Benjamin Sesko might not start every game, and Cunha can play as a number nine. Cunha can also play wide left as well.
“But in this current formation to bring in the goal power and really get the new signings going, Bruno Fernandes is deeper and is obviously either not as effective or not as content in that role.”
Fernandes thrives when given the freedom to operate in an attacking capacity — orchestrating play, making late runs into the box, and creating numerical advantages in the final third.
In a deeper role, however, he’s tasked with defensive responsibilities like shielding the backline and tracking opposition movement, which limits his natural instincts.
His discontent isn’t a full-blown issue yet, but it’s a tactical mismatch that needs addressing.
A practical fix would be for United to bring in a specialist midfielder to anchor the central zone, freeing Fernandes to push forward and influence the game where he’s most dangerous.
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