Juan Mata Talks Building Manchester United Around Fernandes | OneFootball

Juan Mata Advocates for Manchester United to Build Around Bruno Fernandes

Fernandes: A Leader at Old Trafford

Juan Mata, the former Manchester United midfielder, has recently vocalised strong support for the club’s current captain, Bruno Fernandes. In a conversation on the ESPN FC show, Mata highlighted Fernandes’ leadership qualities, suggesting that Manchester United’s culture should centre around him. According to Mata, Fernandes embodies the qualities of a “great leader” and has showcased this through both his remarkable form and his behind-the-scenes influence.

Consistency and Influence: Fernandes’ Key Traits

Fernandes has been a pivotal figure for Manchester United, particularly noted for his scoring spree of six goals and an assist in just four matches. Despite facing scrutiny over his captaincy, which he assumed from Harry Maguire in July 2023, his performance continues to silence doubters. Mata emphasised the significance of Fernandes’ role, stating, “I cannot tell you how important he is for the club and not only because of what he’s done in the last games, scoring two goals and winning the game [against Sheffield United], but his consistency within the years that he’s been playing for the club is just incredible.”

Leadership Beyond the Pitch

Beyond his statistics, Fernandes’ impact stretches further into the dressing room dynamics and the club’s ethos. Mata drew parallels to the era under Sir Alex Ferguson, noting that Fernandes’ presence resonates with the kind of leadership seen during the club’s golden days. “He’s a top, top player, but he’s even better as a person. So for me, the culture of the club should be built around him,” Mata elaborated. He also praised Fernandes as a role model for younger players like Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, and Rasmus Højlund.

Supporting Cast: Rashford’s Potential Reawakening

In his discussion, Mata also touched upon Marcus Rashford’s current form, encouraging optimism about Rashford’s ability to regain his top performance level. Despite a challenging season where Rashford has scored seven goals with United sitting sixth in the Premier League, Mata believes in Rashford’s potential impact. “We all know his [Rashford’s] potential and he knows himself how good he can be when he finds this consistency in his mind. And of course if he’s not injured, which is happening often with him at the moment,” Mata commented, showing faith in Rashford’s capabilities to contribute significantly to the team’s success.

Building for the Future

Juan Mata’s reflections on the current state and future directions of Manchester United place Bruno Fernandes at the heart of the club’s progress. By advocating for a culture built around Fernandes’ leadership, Mata underscores the essential role of character and consistency in shaping the ethos of a team hoping for resurgence.