MU: Trouble arises without Bruno Fernandes

25/12/2025 07:08:00 PANDATV

The prospect of Bruno Fernandes being out for nearly a month brings uncertainty to MU. Is this the start of a slump in form for Ruben Amorim’s team?

MU has never really faced the situation of missing Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder has only been absent for three games at Old Trafford due to health issues. To be exact, he missed one match in March 2022 because of the flu and two games in May 2024 due to a knee injury. Besides that, he was also suspended for a match in December 2024.

MU struggles to win without Bruno Fernandes

Bad news for Manchester United is the significant difference in their win rate when their captain is on the pitch versus when he is absent. In 292 matches across competitions where Fernandes started, MU’s winning percentage is 51.7%. This drops to 45.2% without the 1994-born midfielder. The gap widens even more in the Premier League, where MU’s win rate is 48.6% with Fernandes, but plummets to just 29.4% without him.

Reviewing recent matches without Fernandes highlights just how vulnerable MU is to defeat. Starting with two losses against Crystal Palace and Arsenal at the end of the 2023-24 season, games Fernandes missed due to a knee injury. MU suffered a 0-4 loss to Crystal Palace, conceding the decisive goals within two-thirds of the match, while the narrow defeat to Arsenal exposed the attack’s weakness with only two shots on target. In December last year, MU lost 0-2 to Newcastle without Fernandes after he was suspended following a red card in the previous game against Wolves. Newcastle secured victory within 20 minutes, while Casemiro’s performance raised doubts about his future at Old Trafford.

Fernandes’ absence puts MU at risk of a late-year slump

Most recently, in May this year, MU lost 3-4 to Brentford on a day Fernandes was neither injured nor suspended but rested on the bench as Amorim prioritized the Europa League final. Without Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo partnered Manuel Ugarte in midfield, but both underperformed in that match.

What are the replacement options?

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Amorim must find solutions to replace Fernandes in two key areas: filling the midfield gap and appointing a leader on the field. The first challenge is tough for the Portuguese coach, as options are limited. Kobbie Mainoo was expected to benefit from Fernandes’ absence since Amorim had stated they would compete for the starting spot. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury has sidelined the 20-year-old midfielder, preventing him from being ready for the upcoming match against Newcastle on Friday night.

This leaves Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte as the most viable choices for Amorim. Casemiro has just returned after missing the loss to Aston Villa due to suspension. Despite disappointing performances under Amorim, Ugarte is likely to start in a more defensive role. This setup allows Casemiro to push forward and contribute more offensively, similar to Fernandes’ usual role when starting. Lisandro Martinez was tested as a midfielder in the Aston Villa defeat, but Amorim ruled out continuing with the Argentine in that position. If Amorim lacks confidence in the Casemiro-Ugarte duo, he might gamble on 18-year-old Jack Fletcher, who played 17 minutes against Aston Villa, or drop Mason Mount deeper into midfield. Should Mount move back, Joshua Zirkzee could regain a starting spot, though this would leave MU without any forwards on the bench.

Another, less complicated issue is deciding who will wear the captain’s armband in Fernandes’ absence. In the loss to Aston Villa, Fernandes’ compatriot Diogo Dalot took on the responsibility. Four months ago, when Fernandes did not start in the League Cup defeat to Grimsby, Harry Maguire was captain. However, the 1993-born defender is currently sidelined with a thigh injury. Dalot is highly likely to captain the team in the upcoming Newcastle match, as he is among the six leaders at Old Trafford alongside Fernandes, Tom Heaton, Noussair Mazraoui, Martinez, and Maguire.

Whichever replacement Amorim chooses for Fernandes, it remains a significant challenge as the Portuguese midfielder could miss up to seven matches. MU may well face a performance crisis if the alternatives fail to meet expectations.

Amorim issues a warning to MU’s young players

Although Ruben Amorim has given first-team opportunities to two young talents, Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey, he has not hesitated to warn that he remains dissatisfied with the quality and attitude of the youth players. The Portuguese coach insists that Fletcher and Lacey will need to overcome challenges to secure their places in upcoming matches, even as more chances arise for youngsters amid the club’s ongoing personnel crisis.

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