IT SEEMS almost sacrilege to say it but is Bruno Fernandes actually not very good at the moment?
At the weekend during the defeat to Arsenal he looked in a sulk for most of the game.
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Bruno Fernandes has looked poor in losses to both Arsenal and Istanbul BasaksehirCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Moved wide to accommodate Paul Pogba in a central position, he was out the game, and did not look interested in getting back in it.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer changed it back but by that time the shoulders were slumped and he was subbed with 15 minutes to go.
Likewise in this 2-1 Champions League defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir, as Solskjaer tried to accommodate the creation of Juan Mata and Donny van de Beek, Fernandes was not the dominant figure.
When he was on the ball he just kept losing it. A loose pass to Juan Mata even led to the opening goal.
He can be an angry man. We have seen it on a backstage camera in his time at Sporting Lisbon.
Seen it when he tore into Victor Lindelof when they conceded the winner to Sevilla in the Europa League semi-final.
Then there was the rumoured bust up with Harry Maguire at half-time during the 6-1 defeat to Spurs, denied on all sides remember.
Yet you need to be doing the business yourself when it comes to calling others out.
His influence last season following his move from Sporting Lisbon was undoubted.
He was the catalyst for a second half of the season that saw the club finish third in the Premier League and reach three semi-finals.
There have been four goals this season, three of them penalties and one the fantastic finish against Newcastle.
He also missed one against Newcastle and PSG before the latter was ordered to be retaken for the goalkeeper coming off the line and he converted.
Last night, like Sunday, however, there was little coming from him.
He was not alone… Van de Beek got another start that he wanted and, well, we still wait for the Ajax star who can turn a game.
Edinson Cavani came on too. Solskjaer tells us he does some great runs off the ball.
It would be nice if he actually touched it now and again too.
Still, before panic breaks out let us remember that it was United’s first away defeat in 19 matches dating back to last January’s defeat to Liverpool.
It was also the club’s first away defeat in 19 matches dating back to last January’s defeat to Liverpool.
They were superb in their opening two Group H games winning away to PSG and home to RB Leipzig.
But this result on the back of Sunday’s defeat adds to the fans’ worries.
Next up it is Everton away on Saturday, a fixture that the first manager after Sir Alex Ferguson will remember all too well.
Man Utd legends van Persie and Scholes tears into the defence during Istanbul Basaksehir Champions League tie
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
