Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has warned that Bruno Fernandes could 'explode' amid the side's struggles. Rooney believes the Portuguese is displaying signs of frustration which is impacting his performances.
United have won twice in eight games in all competitions, one in the Premier League and the other in the Champions League over Sabah, and find themselves on a run of four games without a win. They have rode their luck in the last two, needing a deflected Matheus Cunha strike to salvage a point against Fulham on the eve of the international before a stoppage-time equaliser from Dominic Solanke earned 10-man Tottenham Hotspur a point.
Rooney's warning over Fernandes
Rooney has discussed the idea to take Fernandes out of the firing line or at least allow the United star to relinquish some of the burden that comes with his responsibilities.
He told The Overlap's Stick to United: "I genuinely do think he looks (like), 'oh, here we go again'. Same thing."
"There's only so many times (he can do it), he is getting personal recognition, his goals, assists and he's carried the team but you need taking out of that position.
"You can't take yourself out but taken out of that role to be able to breathe again. You can see it building up, there's going to be an explosion with him if it keeps building with him, he's not scared to come out and voice his opinion so there will be that explosion if it carries on.
Midfield concerns and squad responsibility
"Even if taking him out, moving him back or take him out the team, freshen it up a little bit, be more solid in midfield because what you need to do is get results and wins any way that you can.
"[Youri] Tielemans can play that position but for me you need that three in midfield because you're getting outrun, outplayed and then all of a sudden you've got Tielemans and [Kobbie] Mainoo who are both not the quickest and not the most mobile to cover the full width, they can't do it, they need help.
"Whether you stick [Carlos] Baleba in there with them but they need security to help the back four as well. You need to be solid then go and win the game."
Rooney was joined on the podcast by former United defender Phil Bardsley. The full-back claimed that Fernandes looks bereft as he finds himself tasked with another firefighting exercise to keep the club challenging for Europe and honours in England.
Bardsley placed responsibility on others in the squad to step up to the plate and drag the club forward. He said: "Would you sacrifice Bruno? He's fed up, he looks fed up, he looks tired, he's carried the team for three, four, five years.
"He's probably got to a point now where if he's having an off day, somebody else needs to step up and nobody is."
