Surprising Statistics: MU Doesn’t “Collapse” Without Bruno Fernandes

It is often said that the most important quality of a player is the ability to play consistently, and Bruno Fernandes is the clearest example of that.

Since joining Manchester United in January 2020, Bruno Fernandes has missed only 17 matches across all competitions, including 9 in the Premier League. The Portuguese midfielder’s consistency is almost unparalleled at Old Trafford, along with his ability to deliver moments of brilliance whenever MU needs inspiration.

At 31 years old, Fernandes has played the most minutes among top-class players worldwide since he arrived at MU. However, Ruben Amorim’s squad will have to cope without this spiritual leader for the next few games, after Fernandes sustained a hamstring injury in the 1-2 loss to Aston Villa.

Many might be surprised, but MU hasn’t performed too badly without Fernandes. In the 17 matches he missed, the Red Devils achieved a 47.1% win rate, with 8 wins, 3 draws, and 6 losses. During those games, MU scored 26 goals (an average of 1.5 per game) and conceded 24 goals (an average of 1.4 per game). While these numbers offer some encouragement, there is no denying Fernandes remains a key factor in the team’s recent successes.

After 308 appearances for the Red Devils, Fernandes has recorded 158 wins, 71 draws, and 79 losses. When he is on the pitch, MU scores a total of 545 goals (an average of 1.8 per game) and concedes 389 goals (an average of 1.3 per game). MU’s win rate with Fernandes is 51.3%, slightly higher than when he is absent.

In the first season affected by Covid-19, Fernandes missed only 1 match, then 3 matches the following season. He missed 3 games in the 2021/22 season, 3 in 2022/23, and 4 in the 2023/24 campaign. Last season, Fernandes was absent for matches against Fenerbahce, Brentford, and Newcastle. Notably, MU did not win any of the last 6 matches without him.

Speaking on the White and Jordan show, Martin O’Neil emphasized Fernandes’ game-changing influence: “I believe that his leaving right after the first half altered the match’s dynamic. Going into the second half, Aston Villa realized Fernandes was no longer on the field. What did they do? They added another center-back. Lisandro Martínez was pushed up to midfield alongside Manuel Ugarte, but from then on, creativity was missing.”

“From a match where Manchester United controlled the first half, the psychological feeling in the second half was that Aston Villa could dominate the midfield – and they did just that. Therefore, Fernandes is absolutely crucial for them. He truly is an indispensable player.”.

Due to the injury sustained at Villa Park, Fernandes will definitely miss the Boxing Day rematch against Newcastle. The situation is worse as he may be sidelined for up to a month, meaning he could miss around 7 games.