“That's not the kind of player Amorim likes” - Bruno Fernandes warned by Portuguese journalist on what he must not do at Manchester United
Portuguese journalist Miguel Pereira has warned Bruno Fernandes that newly appointed Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim might not be a fan of his free-roaming approach on the field. The 39-year-old took the reins of the club on November 11, just weeks after Dutchman Erik ten Hag was sacked.
Fernandes moved to Old Trafford from Sporting CP in January 2020, just two months before Amorim took charge of the Portuguese outfit. He rapidly established himself as a key player for the Red Devils, and is currently their club captain.
With 83 goals and 73 assists in 250 appearances for United across all competitions, the 30-year-old will likely be a focal point in Amorim's plans. However, Pereira believes that he must curb his tendency to play multiple roles on the pitch in order to succeed under Amorim.
Speaking on the On The Continent podcast, Pereira said (via United in Focus):
"(There is) a question mark of where Bruno Fernandes will play. He is so massively important to the team. Sometimes, he likes to be all around the pitch and that is not the kind of player Amorim likes."
Pereira theorized that Fernandes' role in Amorim's system would potentially be similar to that played by 26-year-old star Pedro Goncalves at Sporting. He added:
"He (Amorim) likes players to be disciplined, to be in the positions they need to be. Fernandes has proved to be decisive on the (final) pass, decisive on scoring goals, so he fits perfectly in the position Goncalves is playing right now for Sporting. That seems suited for him."
"But it will need an upgrade from Fernandes in understanding that, despite being club captain, he cannot be all over the pitch like sometimes he has been under (Erik) Ten Hag," Pereira concluded.
Fernandes has bagged four goals and seven assists in 17 appearances for Manchester United across all competitions this season.
"I'm curious to see" - Portuguese journalist makes prediction about Bruno Fernandes' role in Ruben Amorim's system at Manchester United
Portuguese journalist Sergio Krithnas has claimed that he was 'curious to see' incumbent Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim's plans with attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes' position on the pitch.
Krithnas, akin to his countryman Miguel Pereira, predicted that Fernandes would play a similar role to the one Pedro Goncalves played under Amorim at Sporting CP. Speaking on The Transfers Podcast, the journalist said (via United in Focus):
"I'm curious to see where he is going to start Bruno Fernandes. If Bruno will be one of the two midfielders or whether he will play as a left-winger like with Pedro Goncalves at Sporting."
"Goncalves was also a midfielder, a number eight, and at Sporting he gradually became a left-winger. I can imagine Bruno Fernandes playing as one of the three guys up front, from the left, while using his aggressiveness to defend from the front," Krithnas added.
Amorim's first game in charge of Manchester United will be a visit to Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town on November 24.