Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must’ve been extremely worried about his own future when Everton took the lead in their Premier League encounter earlier today.

United came into the fixture in dismal form and many a pundit (including this one) were talking about this being a possible make or break game for Ole.

Thankfully for the Red Devils boss he could count on maestro Bruno Fernandes to call upon to help him out.

The Portuguese international was the man who turned United’s season around last term and even though he only arrived at Old Trafford in January he still became their player of the year.

During his maiden campaign, Bruno bagged eight goals and seven assists in his fourteen league appearances and that helped secure Man United a top four finish.

This season has been pretty inconsistent for United as they’ve languished in the bottom half of the table.

Some of United’s faithful have been asking for more from the now talismanic figure of Fernandes to get them out of the rut.

Now I believe the twenty-six year old has still been his side’s best performer but today he produced the performance that shows just how great he can be.

Against the Toffees, he was a difference maker, turned the game around and quite probably kept his gaffer in a job (BBC Match Report).

He produced an inch perfect run to meet a fantastic Luke Shaw cross and steer it beyond Everton keeper Jordan Pickford. That goal came just five minutes after the hosts had taken the lead and it really galvanised the visitors.

Then just past the half hour mark, Bruno Fernandes had the ball in the net again when his floated cross deceived everyone.

In the second half, while it was still nervy with the slender lead. United counter attacked and had a three on two as Bruno approached the Toffees box. Everyone seemed pretty certain that the attacking midfield would lunch a strike in a bid to get his hattrick. But after giving the defence the eyes, he turned the ball over to an unmarked Edinson Cavani and the lethal Uruguayan finished with ease.

That unselfish act of Bruno’s, to assist Cavani instead of going for his third , shows just how instrumental he has become to the whole United set-up. That goal will give Edinson huge confidence as that was his first since going the Red Devils since his arrival in the summer. A striker always wants to get off the mark quickly and it is clear that Fernandes understands this and had the awareness to get his pal that all important first strike.

After the game Bruno showed that he knows what’s needed to make United great again:

“I think we know inside of the dressing room what we have to do, the players that we have,” he said.

“Everyone needs to be a leader. Some are the mute leaders, they don’t talk too much but they’re doing the right things.

“Others need to speak a little bit more to be more part of the game, to feel more part of the game.

“But the point is, in the end of the game, taking the three points is for everyone, not just for one player.”

Fernandes via The Express

The Portuguese star is definitely a leader for Manchester United on the park. He has the class, the passion and the ability to really make a difference.

He has already grabbed five goals and three assists in those seven Premier League games.

If Bruno Fernandes can keep up his own magical performances and the rest of his teammates can join him then the tide might just turn at Old Trafford after all.

Posted on November 7th, 2020 by scott
Filed under: Article