Is Bruno Fernandes’ form a symptom or a cause of Man Utd’s struggles?

Bruno Fernandes has produced far fewer goals and chances in the early weeks of this season than he did during his outstanding run at the end of last term, and Manchester United are struggling as a result. The captain has three goals and one assist in six Premier League games, and United have collected just six points, their worst league start in 40 years.

It is only seven weeks since Fernandes stood in the Manchester Opera House and spoke of his pride at being named PFA Player of the Year for 2025-26. The Manchester United captain had already won the Premier League and Football Writers’ versions of the award, in recognition of his huge contribution to his side’s unexpected third-place finish.

Fernandes scored nine goals and claimed 21 assists last season, breaking a Premier League record jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne. Over the final 11 games, he either scored or created 12 of the 21 goals United netted. In the seven-game run that returned United to Europe’s elite club competition after a two-year absence, the 31-year-old was involved in nine of their 12 goals.

Statistically, it was remarkable, and it recalled Eric Cantona’s form in the 1995-96 title-winning campaign, when he scored in six successive games, five of which United won by only one goal.

“It was a special season for me,” Fernandes told an appreciative audience. “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 particular weight now, because this season’s numbers are far less impressive.

A Difficult Start to the Season

Fernandes has played every minute of United’s six Premier League games. His three goals and one assist all came in the second game of the campaign, against Ipswich, which remains his side’s only league win so far.

Those figures are better than last term, when he scored twice in the opening six games and created none. However, at that stage Fernandes was playing in the deeper midfield role that manager Ruben Amorim preferred.

This season, Fernandes is taking more shots than at any point in his recent career apart from one campaign. He averages 3.3 shots per game, second only to his 3.5 in 2020-21. However, his 0.8 shots on target per game is his joint-second lowest figure. His chance creation has also dropped to 2.5 per game, the second lowest of his time at Old Trafford and well down on the 4.0 he managed last season.

More startling still, he has created just one “big chance” this season, the lofted pass that sent Bryan Mbeumo clear of the Ipswich defence on 30 August. Last season, his average was one per game.

These numbers, along with his general involvement, go some way to explaining why United have struggled so badly. But is Fernandes a reason for the club’s problems, or a symptom of them?

Fitness and Team Selection

There is also uncertainty over the Portugal playmaker’s fitness. Fernandes rarely misses a game, but he was left out of the recent Nations League match with Norway, as national team boss Jorge Jesus said the former Sporting player was “playing through pain”.

Fernandes was fit enough to return for the final two internationals of the extended break. Before that, he played the full 90 minutes in United’s 4-0 win over Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK in the Champions League.

United manager Michael Carrick does not see his captain’s condition as a problem as he prepares his side to face Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

“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 Partners

Towards the end of last season, when Fernandes was at his most prolific, Benjamin Sesko was a regular in the number nine role, and veteran Brazilian Casemiro anchored United’s midfield. Of the nine league goals Sesko has scored in 2026, Fernandes created four. He also set up four of the final five goals Casemiro scored for United from 1 February onwards.

Beyond goals, the absence of Sesko and Casemiro is clearly being felt. Even Casemiro’s biggest admirers could not claim United’s current low running numbers are due to his departure for Inter Miami in the summer, although his positioning and game knowledge remain of a high standard. With Casemiro, Fernandes could take risks, trusting that United would not be overrun on the counter-attack if he lost the ball.

As for Sesko, a fresh shin injury extends a lack of involvement that is being keenly felt, and there is no end date in sight.

The club’s decision-makers ignored calls to bring in more striking support in the summer and instead reinforced Carrick’s midfield. A plan to cover Sesko’s initial absence by using Mbeumo as a number nine was scrapped when Amad Diallo suffered an ankle injury just before the opening game at Hull. Matheus Cunha was given the role instead, but he repeatedly dropped deep into the space Fernandes was occupying, and the pair never found an effective way of dealing with it.

For Fernandes, it feels restrictive. He is not a player who lacks confidence, but his decision-making does seem 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, as he looked ahead to the Champions League meeting with Atletico, Carrick said no one was “guaranteed” a place in his team. He added enough caveats, however, to suggest that leaving out his captain is not in his thinking.

United must start to improve, and that means Fernandes must do the same.

“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.”