Bruno Fernandes has made a disappointing start to the season, and he was below his best again in Manchester United's defeat to Atletico Madrid. The United captain created chances for fun on his way to breaking the Premier League assist record last season, but the last few weeks have shown that he is human after all.
Poor display against Atletico
Fernandes has looked a shell of the player seen last season, uncharacteristically failing to make an impact in games, and he delivered another poor display against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night. He did not record a touch in Atletico's penalty area until the second half and made just two passes into the final third.
When Fernandes failed to convert a golden chance in the 57th minute after latching onto Youri Tielemans' through ball, Michael Carrick reacted by putting his hands on his head in disbelief. There was a desperate look etched across Fernandes' face as he watched the ball bounce wide of the post. It was the kind of chance that he has buried so often during his six-and-a-half years at the club.
Struggles since the World Cup
Carrick would have been tempted to hook Fernandes at the interval if he wasn't Bruno Fernandes. He'd played so poorly that a change would have been logical, but there is always a chance that a world-class player can find a spark, even when they're struggling for form. Fernandes started on the right side of the attack - Tielemans played as the No.10 - at the Metropolitano, but he was given license to drift into other areas, which on paper would see him used to best effect.
However, it was more of the same from Fernandes, who has looked weary since the World Cup, as highlighted in the first half when he took an age to get up after a foul by Alex Baena. Although Fernandes had time to pick out the right pass, he dithered on the ball, allowing Baena to close him down from behind. He would usually play the pass quickly, and wouldn't usually take so long to get back up.
"Maybe they need to take Bruno off because he's not having the best game," said Wayne Rooney at half-time, the only time a suggestion that Fernandes should be hooked at the interval has looked sane.
Overplayed and underperforming
Fernandes hit the crossbar after being relocated to the No.10 role when Tielemans was substituted - coming close to making an impact even on an off day - but it was little surprise that Carrick finally brought him off after Atletico made it 2-0, as the game was a lost cause with 10 men. The 32-year-old looked miserable as he walked off. Atletico's stadium will host the Champions League final later in the season, but Fernandes knows it would take a miracle for United to be there in June.
Fernandes is playing through the pain barrier, a major factor in his dip in form, but he knows he should be performing better. Carrick spoke about playing through injuries, drawing on his own playing career, when he was asked about Fernandes before the game, making the point that it's rare for a player to be at 100 per cent fitness throughout a season. He also predicted Fernandes will return to form. "He's done some incredible things for this football club, and he will do the same in the future; there's no doubt about that," Carrick said, confidently backing his captain.
Carrick will be aware, though, that Fernandes is operating below the levels he expects of himself. It even took him 23 minutes to complete his first pass against Tottenham last weekend - the longest he has ever had to wait to find a teammate in his Premier League career. Some of the blame for Fernandes' form lies at Carrick's door, as Tuesday night was the first time that he has substituted him off this season. United have a full fixture list this season, meaning Fernandes' minutes needed to be handled sensibly, but he has continued to be overplayed.
United had the game won against Sabah in the Champions League last month, yet Fernandes was kept on the pitch for the entire match, despite picking up a knock, a baffling decision and an example of poor management. Carrick needs Fernandes back to his best to restore order after an awful start to the season, but the problem is, the midfielder's performance in Madrid suggests he is not close to arresting his slump.
