Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has heaped praise on Bruno Fernandes following his outstanding hat-trick that secured United’s 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad, propelling them into the Europa League quarter-finals. However, while lauding his captain’s determination and leadership, Amorim also highlighted an important flaw in Fernandes’ approach — his tendency to take too much responsibility on himself and not trust his teammates enough.
Fernandes, who has been the linchpin in United’s midfield, delivered a brilliant performance at Old Trafford, scoring all three goals and creating several chances that could have seen his teammates get on the scoresheet as well. His display reflected his immense influence and importance to a side struggling for consistency this season.
United currently sit 14th in the Premier League, facing the prospect of their worst league finish since 1973-74, but Fernandes has remained a shining light amid the gloom. He is United’s top scorer with 15 goals, while no other player has reached double figures. His goals have often been pivotal, turning losses into draws and draws into wins, making him arguably the team’s most valuable player this season.
“When we need him, he’s always there,” Amorim said after the match. “He can bring the ball forward, score goals, and lead transitions like he showed today. In the last 10 minutes of the game, he can defend as well. He’s a perfect captain for our team, and we need to help him win titles because he’s a legend.”
However, Amorim also offered a candid assessment of Fernandes’ game, noting that his desperation to win sometimes leads him to abandon his tactical role in search of the ball. “We know that he’s frustrated. We know that he wants to win so badly,” Amorim explained. “Sometimes, when we’re not playing well, he changes position and goes after the ball. But sometimes, he needs to trust a little bit more in his teammates to allow them to do their job and help him play better.”
This critique echoes sentiments from former United legends such as Gary Neville and Roy Keane, who have previously criticized Fernandes’ captaincy and questioned his overall impact despite his impressive stats. Keane, in particular, questioned how much worse United’s season could get without Fernandes, given their continued struggles.
Yet, Fernandes continues to show up when it matters. In recent weeks, he scored crucial goals in high-profile games — including a free-kick against Everton, an equalizer in an FA Cup tie with Fulham, and the goal that secured a draw against Arsenal. These contributions have helped United stay afloat in a challenging campaign.
Amorim has also been working on tactical adjustments to improve team performance. Notably, he has shifted Fernandes into a deeper No. 8 role, giving him more influence over play from midfield, while also experimenting with Alejandro Garnacho as a right-sided No. 10, a position in which the young Argentine has shown surprising effectiveness. Additionally, veteran midfielder Casemiro has seen increased game time, partly due to injuries in midfield, and delivered perhaps his best performance of the season against Sociedad, earning a standing ovation when substituted late on.
“I’m learning how to use players like Casemiro,” Amorim admitted. “Without a lot of options, we’re trying to put them in the best positions, and that helps us a lot. You can feel they have more freedom. In Spain, we tried to use Garnacho on the right, and he showed me so many good things — maybe even better than on the left.”
Amorim also noted a growing sense of confidence and belief within the squad, highlighting how their draw against Arsenal and the aggregate win over Sociedad have provided a morale boost. “The small things are really important,” he said. “We came here with two days to prepare against Arsenal, and that small feeling of the second half, that we were there, helped the players believe. I felt during the week that they thought they could do this. Even without the red card, I think we would have won.”
With United now unbeaten across 90 minutes in seven straight games, Amorim’s men seem to be finding form at a crucial moment. And while Fernandes remains central to their resurgence, Amorim’s call for him to trust in his teammates more suggests that United’s success will depend not just on their captain’s brilliance but on the team’s ability to function as a cohesive unit.
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