Fernandes is the heartbeat of Amorim’s Manchester United

Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 16.

Player analysis: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Bruno Fernandes is almost single-handedly driving Manchester United’s push for a top-four finish.

The captain’s unwavering output has seen him assist six times, scoring four goals himself - and those numbers fail to do justice to the sheer quantity of chances he has been involved in.  

Wonderful against Wolves

Fernandes produced a magnificent individual display in Manchester United’s 4-1 success at Wolverhampton Wanderers last Monday.

The Portuguese star ran central midfield with effortless ease, making the most of a very loose defensive display from the home side as he scored twice and produced an assist.

By the time the final whistle was blown, Fernandes had taken on five shots, created five chances, and made a team-high 53 accurate passes.

He also ran further than anyone else in Ruben Amorim’s side after covering 11.3km.

This precise, beautifully timed clip over a static Wolves rearguard to set up Mason Mount for the third goal was one of three superb through-balls he executed on the night.

Watch: Mount's goal v Wolves

The other two defence-splitting passes came during a rampant first half from United, with Fernandes opening up their back three with ease to set up Diogo Dalot and Bryan Mbeumo for 1v1s…

When Fernandes has time to look up and runners to find, he usually seeks them out with great accuracy.

Fernandes can see the picture in front of him very clearly indeed from his deeper central midfield position.

No one in the division has made more through-balls this season.

Most through-balls PL 25/26

Set-piece expertise

United’s skipper is also statistically the most dangerous set-piece taker in the Premier League.

His corners from the left wing have been problematic for opponents to cope with, as Tottenham Hotspur found to their cost when he found Matthijs de Ligt’s head for a late equaliser in north London.

Watch: De Ligt's equaliser v Spurs

He whips right-footed deliveries into the six-yard box with tremendous pace and dip, making it very hard for goalkeepers to come out and claim the cross.

This chart (below) shows where Fernandes’ placement has been in 2025/26 from left-wing corners, with the majority swung underneath the crossbar aiming for the centre or far-post region inside the six-yard area.

Fernandes' left-wing corner placements 25/26

This is something Andoni Iraola’s AFC Bournemouth must be aware of on Monday at Old Trafford.

The Cherries have conceded nine times from set-pieces, so there is a vulnerability that Fernandes might be able to exploit.

As it stands, he has made five more chances from dead balls than anyone else.

Most chances created from set-pieces PL 25/26

Are his performances being underrated?

Fernandes has drawn criticism at times this season for failing to track runners inside his own half, but that should not overshadow what he is doing with the ball.

While adapting to a new role alongside Casemiro, he has carved out nine more chances (45) than the next most creative player, Jeremy Doku (36).

Most chances created PL 25/26

And across all the major attacking metrics in 2025/26, Fernandes sits inside the top five.

While many still feel he is better suited to a No 10 role, he is proving he can still be a serious influence inside the final third.

Fernandes attacking stats and PL rank

His 45 key passes stem from many different areas (and he sets up a wide variety of team-mates with them) but as seen below he does have a penchant for putting quality passes into the box from positions to the right of centre.

When he drifts into those areas within 30 yards of goal, Bournemouth must focus hard on pressurising him at Old Trafford.

Fernandes' key passes 25/26

What would United do without Fernandes?

With Amad and Bryan Mbeumo heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) next week, there will be an extra onus on Fernandes to carry on supplying quality.

When you look at who creates United’s chances in open play, beyond these three players you are looking at Matheus Cunha and two wing-backs who are next in line.

While they are away, Fernandes’ form must stay hot if Amorim’s men are to avoid dropping lots of points.

Most chances created in open play for Man Utd PL 25/26

Fernandes, who ranks third for the highest number of successful long passes among outfielders in the Premier League this season, loves drilling diagonals out to Amad and Mbeumo on the right flank.

Will he makes as many of those passes when they are at AFCON?

With Fernandes so far out in front of his Man Utd team-mates in most attacking metrics, they can ill afford to lose him to injury.

In that regard they maybe feel quite safe, as the Portuguese midfielder has a truly astonishing fitness record.

Fernandes has featured in 196 of the 205 Premier League matches played since the start of 2020/21, never missing more than three league matches in a single campaign.

Is he an all-time Premier League great?

Given Man Utd’s lack of success since he joined the club, it is easy to overlook his personal contributions.

Since his debut on 1 February 2020, Fernandes has created 151 more chances than Kevin De Bruyne, who registers second during that period.

He is also just a single assist behind the Manchester City legend.

Most chances created and assists in PL since 1 February 2020

He may now be in his 30s, but Bournemouth, with just one win in their last eight games, will know they must keep a very tight handle on a gifted player who is in top form at the moment.

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