In Focus: Ralf needs Bruno boost to get Red Devils firing

Bruno Fernandes was Manchester United’s top scorer last season but has struck just once in the Premier League since September.

The Portuguese playmaker’s goal against Arsenal earlier this month was his first since netting in the 4-1 win over Newcastle, 94 days ago.

The 27-year-old had a game to forget in Saturday’s clash at Norwich, playing just one key pass and finishing the match having only completed 67% of his attempts.

With the Red Devils seeing tonight’s trip to Brentford postponed due to a coronavirus outbreak, we consider what has gone wrong for Fernandes and how he can get back to his brilliant best at Old Trafford.

A transitional season

Fernandes is not the only United player to disappoint this term.

The former Sporting star is one of many to have struggled, with the 20-time champions of England having something of a stop-start campaign.

Ex-boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tweaked systems and roles, meaning the team lacked consistency for large periods of the campaign.

That inevitably had an impact on players’ output and this was particularly noticeable with Fernandes.

Prior to this spell, he was prolific. But the goals have dried up and as a result, everything he does is now under the microscope.

It is not necessarily his fault but that will not stop fans, pundits and analysts from heaping pressure on United’s creative spark.

Support act

Ever since his arrival at Old Trafford during the January 2020 transfer window, Fernandes has been the main man.

He became the side’s lynchpin, with the Porto native handed the responsibility of taking penalties and free-kicks.

But that all changed when Cristiano Ronaldo returned.

His compatriot immediately took over the role of match-winner and became the deciding factor in many games for United.

Whereas team-mates would previously seek out Fernandes, everything was now about getting the ball to the legendary forward.

As a result, the playmaker is now taking fewer shots and is now much less of a goal threat.

Without the goals and the iconic moments, Fernandes has become just another cog in the United machine — yet expectations remain the same.

Perhaps they need to be reviewed, to match up with his new role within the squad.

Out of tempo

Following the 1-0 win over Norwich, interim boss Ralf Rangnick was somewhat critical of his team.

He said: “We have conceded the highest amount of goals in the top 10.

“Now we have two clean sheets, which is good, but we still need to improve on that away, especially against physical teams or teams that attack high like Norwich did.

“Norwich did not play like a bottom team.”

Fernandes won just one of the four tackles he attempted at Carrow Road and made no interceptions.

He was supposed to be one of the players ideally suited to a Rangnick side but struggled to impose himself against an opponent rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.

Utility man

Sometimes a player can be too versatile — if there is not a set role for them with defined instructions, their game can suffer.

This might be what we are seeing with Fernandes.

He has played all across the midfield as well as being deployed in deeper areas. In total, he has featured in seven different positions this season.

It is clearly difficult for a player to perform to a consistently high level when they do not have a set role within the team.

Rangnick has used Fernandes as one of the pair of players behind the front two, but even that is a different position for the one-time Udinese man and he is having to learn on the job.

Back to basics

When playing to his strengths, Fernandes is one of the best attackers in world football.

But how long can the Red Devils continue to shoehorn him into different areas of the field?

United have been eking out wins under Rangnick but are yet to hit top gear — restoring Fernandes to the freer role he used to occupy may do the trick.

The club’s new manager knows how to get the best out of forwards of all shapes and sizes. He has done it throughout his career and he will likely do it again with Fernandes.