Bruno Fernandes has scored three goals and provided one assist in Manchester United’s six Premier League games this season, a sharp drop from the record-breaking form that earned him the PFA Player of the Year award just seven weeks ago.
Fernandes collected the PFA award at the Manchester Opera House in August. He had already won the Premier League and Football Writers’ versions of the honour, recognizing his outstanding contribution to United’s unexpected third-place finish. He scored nine goals and claimed 21 assists, breaking a Premier League record jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne.
Over the final 11 games of last season, Fernandes either scored or created 12 of United’s 21 goals. In the seven-game run that carried United back into the Champions League after a two-year absence, the 31-year-old was involved in nine of their 12 goals. That level of production recalled Eric Cantona in the 1995-96 title-winning campaign, when he scored in six successive games, five of which United won by a single goal.
“It was a special season for me,” Fernandes said at the awards event. “I am very proud.
“But we don’t play tennis. We don’t play just for ourselves. We play for a team, we play for a club, we play for the fans. There is nothing more special than that.”
Those words carry extra weight now, because this season’s numbers tell a much less impressive story.
A Difficult Start to the Season
Fernandes has played every minute of United’s six league matches. His three goals and one assist all came in the second game, a 3-1 win over Ipswich, which remains United’s only league victory so far. United have collected just six points from their opening six games, their worst start to a league campaign in 40 years.
Those figures do represent an improvement on last season, when Fernandes scored twice in his first six league games and created none. However, he played in the deeper midfield role that Ruben Amorim preferred at that stage.
Several underlying numbers point to a decline. Fernandes is averaging 3.3 shots per game, his second-highest figure for total shots at Old Trafford, though his best was 3.5 in 2020-21. His average of 0.8 shots on target per game is joint-second lowest of his time at the club. His chance creation has fallen to 2.5 per game, the second lowest of his United career and well down on the 4.0 he produced last season.
Most striking of all, he has created just one “big chance” so far this season, a lofted pass that sent Bryan Mbeumo clear of the Ipswich defense on 30 August. Last season, Fernandes averaged one big chance created per game.
Reason or Symptom?
Fernandes’ individual numbers and his overall involvement may help explain United’s poor start. The key question is whether he is a cause of the club’s problems or a symptom of them.
His fitness also remains a question. Fernandes rarely misses matches, but he was left out of the recent Nations League game against Norway. National team boss Jorge Jesus said the Portugal playmaker was “playing through pain.” Fernandes returned for the final two internationals of the break, and he played the full 90 minutes in United’s 4-0 Champions League win over Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK.
United manager Michael Carrick does not see the issue as a concern as he prepares his side for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Atletico Madrid.
“He was carrying something but that happens a lot,” Carrick said. “Players play with issues.
“It’s not ideal but it is manageable. Bruno is able to play. That is the commitment he has got.
“He is pretty much over it, was really bright in training this morning and is looking forward to the game.”
Missing Support Around Him
Towards the end of last season, when Fernandes was at his most prolific, Benjamin Sesko regularly played as the number nine, and veteran Brazilian Casemiro anchored United’s midfield. Fernandes created four of Sesko’s nine league goals in 2026. He also set up four of the final five goals Casemiro scored for United from 1 February onward.
The absence of Sesko and Casemiro is now clearly felt. Casemiro left for Inter Miami in the summer, but his positioning and game knowledge were of a high standard, and his presence allowed Fernandes to take risks, knowing United would not be overrun on the counterattack if he lost the ball.
Sesko’s latest shin injury extends a spell without him, and there is no confirmed return date. United’s leadership ignored calls for more striking support in the summer and instead strengthened Carrick’s midfield.
A plan to cover Sesko’s initial absence by using Mbeumo as a number nine was abandoned when Amad Diallo suffered an ankle injury just before the opening game at Hull. Matheus Cunha took over that role, but he repeatedly dropped deep into the space Fernandes occupied, and the two never found an effective way to share it.
For Fernandes, the setup feels restrictive. He is not a player who lacks confidence, but his decision-making appears to be suffering. Against Tottenham at the weekend, it took him an incredible 23 minutes to complete a pass.
Carrick Backs His Captain
On Monday, Carrick said no player was “guaranteed” a place in his team. He added enough caveats, however, to suggest that leaving out his captain is not under consideration.
United must improve, and Fernandes must lead that change.
“He’s a top player, Bruno,” Carrick said.
“Sometimes things don’t quite go for you. Sometimes you have a spell of that.
“But 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.”
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