Amorim risks disaster with looming Bruno Fernandes decision that could tear Man United’s season apart | OneFootball

Manchester United are bracing for a big 2025/26 season following a disastrous 2024/25 campaign that saw them finish in 15th place, having suffered 18 defeats and amassing just 42 points.

When Ruben Amorim was named as Erik ten Hag’s replacement in November, there was hope that the Portuguese coach could mastermind a dramatic change in fortunes and set United on a path of positive results and improved performances. The opposite was mostly the case. Things went from bad to worse as United found themselves unable to buy a win, particularly on the domestic front, where their rivals consistently came out on top.

The season ended in further heartbreak as United’s last hope slipped away. Amorim and his players suffered a cruel defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final – a result that not only cost them a European trophy but also shut the backdoor route to Champions League qualification.

Fast forward to the present and the Red Devils have signed two players to bolster their ranks – Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford respectively. Both are fine additions to the ranks and could help raise United’s ceiling but there is one decision that may ultimately make or break Amorim and dictate the kind of season United endure. That is the role of Bruno Fernandes in the team.

Fernandes is United’s most important player

If there was any lingering doubt over who United’s most vital player is, last season erased it completely, with Fernandes coming out on top as the undisputed standout.

Many critics claimed that United would have found themselves in a dogfight to survive the drop without the contributions of their skipper and it’s hard to argue against this assessment.

The playmaker netted eight goals and provided an additional 10 assists in 36 Premier League appearances on his way to winning the club’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards. Across all competitions, Fernandes notched 19 goals and as many assists.

Some of his contributions proved absolutely vital, rescuing points for United from games where they had been staring at defeat.

He has seemingly picked up where he left off, starting the club’s pre-season tour in excellent form. It was Fernandes’ superb brace against West Ham that secured United’s 2-1 victory over the Hammers in their opening meeting of the Premier League Summer Series.

However, to keep the Portugal international operating at his best, it’s crucial that Amorim resists the temptation to make a tactical tweak he’s seemingly eager to try – switching Fernandes from the number 10 role to a slightly deeper midfield position.

Amorim must keep Fernandes in the 10

Fernandes is a maverick capable of producing magic from nearly any area of the pitch, but there’s no question that he is at his most effective in an attacking midfield role. It’s in this position that he truly thrives, showcasing the full extent of his quality and skillset.

He was at his most influential in that role last season, and truth be told, his finest performances for United have consistently come from the number 10 position.

There were instances last term and of course more recently against Leeds in Stockholm, Sweden, that Amorim deployed Fernandes in the pivot, alongside more defensive-minded players like Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro or Kobbie Mainoo.

It’s easy to see why Amorim has leaned on this tactic before. Not many, if any, in the United squad can progress the ball as effectively as Fernandes. The idea appears to be that he can dictate the tempo from deeper, keeping play flowing and helping the team advance higher up the pitch.

But, the caveat is that United risk losing the spark of a creative genius who crafts chances like no one else in England. While Fernandes is still capable of influencing the game from deeper, it surely makes more sense to position him as close to the striker as possible, from where he can inflict maximum damage. After all, isn’t a manager’s primary responsibility to place players in the best possible conditions to thrive and perform at their peak?

When deployed deeper, United often lack the creative inspiration that Fernandes typically provides. His influence in the final third diminishes and the team suffers for it.

Amorim might see the arrivals of Cunha and Mbeumo as the perfect opportunity to use the pair as twin number 10s, which would in turn allow Fernandes to operate from a deeper position. But for all their X-factor, pace, and other strengths, Cunha and Mbeumo simply don’t match Fernandes when it comes to pure creativity. It’s up to Amorim to figure out how to make it all click, but the upside of playing Fernandes in the No. 10 role far outweighs any advantages of deploying him in the pivot.

The United head coach is at a crossroads and faces a huge decision with Fernandes. Whatever course of action he pursues could very well shape the outcome of the club’s entire season. A single misstep might unravel everything, tearing apart any momentum or progress that’s been built.

Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images

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