BRUNO FERNANDES has been nothing short of sensational since his arrival at Manchester United a year ago.
The Portuguese ace has helped spearhead the Red Devils to the top of the Premier League for the first time since 2017.
But even with his remarkable figures on the pitch, it hasn’t stopped supporters aiming criticism at the playmaker.
Fernandes, 26, had a quiet afternoon by his standards in United’s drab 0-0 draw with arch-rivals Liverpool on Sunday.
He came within inches of scoring his 12th league goal of the season with a brilliant free-kick that whistled past Alisson’s post.
And he was also denied by the Brazilian in the second half from close range.
Amazingly it was just the seventh time in the league this season that he hasn’t contributed a goal or assist – and fans are starting to notice a worrying trend.
Fernandes appears to be failing to deliver against the big six and the stats back it up.
In eight matches since his arrival, he has just two goals meaning he is averaging a goal every 328 minutes.
In comparison he is hitting the target every 119 minutes against the rest of the teams in the Premier League.
Bruno Fernandes endured a frustrating night at AnfieldCredit: EPA
Fernandes spurned a golden chance to earn Man United all three pointsCredit: AP:Associated Press
It is a similar story with his assists.
He averages one every 70 minutes against teams outside of the top six compared to 164 minutes versus the top sides.
It doesn’t end there with Fernandes averaging less chances created, shots, successful passes and tackles.
After drawing a blank against Jurgen Klopp’s side, viewers criticised him on Twitter with one writing: “Don’t ever compare Fernandes to De Bruyne because he doesn’t perform in the big games. Penalty merchant.”
Another added: “Kai Havertz has more goal contributions than Bruno Fernandes against the “big six” clubs. We are made to believe one is a magician.”
A third said: “Another Bruno Fernandes big six game disasterclass.”
And talkSPORT host and former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara also believes Fernandes needs to step up in the big matches.
He said: “Bruno Fernandes gets built up massively, everyone talks about him being this brilliant player and he is – he’s been fantastic for Man United.
“But in the last few weeks when I’ve watched him against the big clubs, Liverpool and Man City, he’s been poor.
“The standard of his passing… Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did a little interview where he says Fernandes ‘frustrates him’, and I can actually see that because he gets in great positions sometimes but he gives the ball away for fun!
“Everyone slaughters Paul Pogba, people give him a hard time, people give Harry Maguire a hard time, I think Scott McTominay was absolutely fantastic for Man United against Liverpool and Luke Shaw.
“But Bruno Fernandes, I’m looking at his performance thinking, ‘come on, you can score loads of penalties but in those big moments if you want to win the league you need to step up a bit more’.
“He’s been going missing in these big games.
“I’m not saying he’s not been absolutely fantastic for them, but if you want to be a team that wins the Premier League, you have to produce in those big games.
“Even if it’s just one pass or one piece of magic, Fernandes needs to do that on those moments, because he got the ball in so many great areas yesterday and he just kept giving it away – it was so frustrating.
“That’s the difference between him and a player like Kevin De Bruyne, who you know will turn up in every single game.”
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford
Man Utd legend Roy Keane shocks fans by casually saying he supported Tottenham as a kid – but says he’s ‘not sure why’
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
