There is no such thing as a getting away from it; that is Manchester United‘s worst begin to a season in 40 years.
It is a stat that feels prefer it will get repeated yearly, however what’s unravelled this time period at Outdated Trafford is perplexing. Whereas some will say they noticed it coming, utilizing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a reference level, others can be shocked.
In any case, it is a crew that had been distinctive underneath Michael Carrick within the again finish of final time period. From week 20 of the season to week 38, no crew picked up extra factors.
So, the place’s all of it gone fallacious? Properly, the supervisor is failing to get a tune out of one in all their trendy greats: Bruno Fernandes.
How Bruno Fernandes fared vs Leeds
Fernandes is likely one of the greatest gamers within the Premier League when he is on type. The actual fact he gained the PFA Participant of the 12 months award final season tells you all it’s good to know.
But, this time period has been a problem. He scored an excellent hat-trick at house to Ipswich within the opening weeks of the season however that’s about pretty much as good as it’s got for the Portuguese in 2026/27.
A goalless recreation in opposition to Leeds on Sunday afternoon means he has now gone six video games with out discovering the web. What hasn’t labored is a change in place.
In opposition to Atletico Madrid within the Champions League final week, Carrick chosen Fernandes to play on the suitable. At Elland Street, he performed off the left.
|
Fernandes vs Leeds |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes performed |
90 |
|
Touches |
51 |
|
Correct passes |
23/37 (62%) |
|
Possibilities created |
1 |
|
Photographs |
3 |
|
Photographs on the right track |
1 |
|
Profitable dribbles |
0 |
|
Tackles |
1 |
|
Interceptions |
1 |
|
Ball recoveries |
4 |
|
Duels gained |
1/6 |
Properly, given the outcomes and the efficiency ranges of Fernandes, that call has not been vindicated.
On the weekend, the 32-year-old had the joint-most pictures within the recreation with three however failed to finish a dribble, created only one likelihood and solely gained one in all his six duels. It was one other poor efficiency and one which has prompted deeper issues concerning the skipper.
Why Fernandes is turning into a wider drawback
Fernandes is likely one of the greatest signings in Manchester United historical past. He has scored 107 objectives and assisted 108. Few at Outdated Trafford have dazzled as a lot as he has, even when a number of the most iconic gamers the sport has ever seen have worn the well-known United purple.
Final time period was a particular one. He registered 21 assists within the league, beating a seasonal report of 20 held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
In consequence, it fairly defies perception that the attacking midfielder has only one help to point out for his efforts from ten video games this time period.
What is going on fallacious? Properly, it virtually seems like he is attempting a bit too laborious. He is aware of he is the most effective participant on the crew and he is aware of all the things should come by him. It is loads of strain to play with.
Maybe it is a case of understanding his race is run. Fernandes has rejected profitable gives to depart United previously. Saudi Arabia got here calling however he wished to remain in England; he wished to remain in Manchester particularly.
Nevertheless, on the age of 32, you sense he doubtlessly has another transfer in him. In the mean time, he doubtless shares Lisandro Martinez viewpoint. He has given blood, sweat and tears to the challenge and obtained little or no again.
On the very least, the hierarchy might give him a functioning assault to work alongside.
Why Fernandes needs to be irritated with Man United’s assault
The recruitment has been a horror story for some time now.
Fortunately, the times of Jadon Sancho, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund are lengthy gone now however issues nonetheless linger within the last third. Actually, it is fairly exceptional that Fernandes made it to 21 assists final season.
In reality, the ahead line at Outdated Trafford has improved. The work executed in the summertime of 2025 to lure Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko to the membership needs to be admired. In spells, all three have seemed like good signings.
But, there are nonetheless scars from days passed by, significantly Joshua Zirkzee. He’s one in all a lot of distinctly abject additions to United’s ahead line since Fernandes signed. In reality, it is one thing of a footballing crime that he is not had higher choices forward of him. He has each proper to be annoyed with the recruitment lately.
There are some names with confirmed pedigree there. See the good Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani.
Sadly, nonetheless, Zirkzee is lower extra from the Hojlund or Wout Weghorst material. A tall striker, he is by no means actually made the grade in Manchester and it’s only going from unhealthy to worse for him.
After the arrival of Sesko simply over a yr in the past, he was bumped down the pecking order and performed simply 26 occasions in 2025/26, scoring two objectives. He solely began on 5 events within the Premier League.
Sadly for Zirkzee, he now seems to be even additional down the pecking order after Mbeumo’s efficiency on Sunday afternoon.
The Netherlands worldwide was an unused sub with Mbeumo most well-liked because the main striker and he took his likelihood brilliantly, sliding in to present United the lead.
Whereas he’s not the whole centre ahead, he is actually a menace within the last third and deserves to be the focus of the assault with Sesko out injured.
That does, nonetheless, spell unhealthy information for Zirkzee. It seemed just like the 25-year-old might depart over the summer season however he stayed at Outdated Trafford and is ready to endure a scarcity of recreation time consequently.
Signed for over £36m, it’s secure to say he has been a giant waste of cash, netting simply 9 occasions in 81 appearances. It says all of it that his conversion charge of 8% final season was practically as unhealthy as Weghorst’s conversion charge of 6% when he was at United.
Given the value tag and the actual fact his wages have taken the price of this deal to £57m, he is a a lot bigger drawback than what’s occurring with both Fernandes and even Martinez proper now.
It was worrying that they might not shift him over the summer season. Will they’ve higher luck over the winter? You would be shocked.
