Bruno Fernandes misfires when Ten Hag needs him most, seen as ‘teacher’s pet

Bruno Fernandes grew up 10 kilometres away from Porto in the Maia region and, if former Manchester United Benni McCarthy is to be believed, is a ‘massive’ Porto fan.

So here he was, the opportunity of redemption, a homecoming days after receiving the first red card of his Manchester United career in a humiliating home defeat to Tottenham.

And yet Fernandes found himself leaving the field drowning in a cacophony of jeers; 47,000 home fans mocking him after picking up another red card, his second in five days. Having gone 242 games for United without one, he was now in the record books for two in two.

As he trudged off, that isolating stroll past his manager and team-mates, all the histrionics that come with the fiery Portuguese star washed away. Here was Fernandes, stripped bare of his confidence, his usual swagger, and looking lost amid one of the bleakest spells of his United career.

Eric Cantona knows what it is like to see red twice in a week after being sent off in 1994 against Swindon and Arsenal, while the same fate befell Nicky Butt in 1998 against Barcelona and Arsenal.

Fernandes, much like Cantona was, is a polarising figure with his on-pitch demeanour making him a villain for opposition supporters and a source of frustration for followers of United. But prior to this season there was at least the goal involvements to offset his histrionics.

Fernandes delivered 12 goals and eight assists in his first half season after arriving from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020.

His second season produced 28 goals and 17 assists; season three brought 10 goals and 14 assists, while the last two seasons combined have seen Fernandes produce 29 goals and 27 assists.

The edge to which he plays on has more often than not been to United’s benefit, only now the upside has vanished and they are left with a player devoid of confidence, appearing as frustrated as he’s ever been, who is increasingly careless in possession and, most striking of all given his talent, is letting the biggest games pass him by.

‘Bruno [Fernandes] is a very important player for us,’ boss Erik ten Hag said in his captain’s defence on Thursday night following the 3-3 draw in Porto.

‘One of his greatest attributes, for me, is his emotions. As you saw, he gave everything once again to win the game, even when he was shown the card. I think he didn't see the player behind him. He gave everything to score. Unfortunately, he was penalised for that.’

Ten Hag is always extremely robust in his defence of Fernandes, often taking a different approach to how he may evaluate some of his other players when out of form.

Back in February, criticism online of his captain irked Ten Hag so much so he spoke out against supporters.

‘I see social media criticising him,’ Ten Hag said after an FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest which Fernandes managed to play through the pain barrier in.

‘It is pathetic. He had a serious injury but he continued to play on Saturday and then also he fought to be part of this game.

‘He has a very high pain threshold and last year, he did something similar against Spurs and I think in the semi-final (against Brighton). It shows his leadership.’

Sources at the training ground have described Fernandes as something of a ‘teacher’s pet’ for Ten Hag and his defences of the Portuguese never surprise.

But Fernandes in the form he is right now is a headache that Ten Hag is kidding himself if he thinks he has an antidote for.

The 31-year-old has failed to score and contributed only one assist in United’s first five Premier League games. He has been a bystander in the first two games in Europe, too.

Against Crystal Palace last month he lost possession a staggering 34 times, while in the below-par draw against FC Twente in the Europa League Fernandes touched the ball 72 times but created just one chance. Against Porto he gave the ball away 10 times and failed to muster a single shot on target.

Fatigue, both mentally and physically, is one verdict. Fernandes made 64 appearances for United and Portugal last season after 74 in 2022-23. This season, only Diogo Dalot (873) and Lisandro Martinez (785) have played more minutes for United as outfield players than Fernandes (770).

Another is that the general malaise that is infecting this United team has finally got to the squad’s best player. Last season he rallied while Marcus Rashford and Casemiro took a giant step backwards, and with United suffering defensively this season, he has, to use the verdict of Portuguese newspaper A Bola on Thursday night, ‘drowned in an engine room that is already underwater’.

United insist that both sendings off - the one against Tottenham has already been overturned retrospectively - were incorrect and Fernandes has fallen victim to poor refereeing decisions.

But seeing the man he replaced as captain in Harry Maguire come on in Porto and provide the leadership required to salvage a draw, it was symbolic of the crossroads United find themselves at with the armband once more.

‘The influence he brings to the other players as captain, I can’t speak highly enough of him,’ sporting director Dan Ashworth said of Fernandes after he signed a new and improved deal until 2027, with the option of a further year, on the eve of a season.

‘It was a crucial part of the transfer strategy as well.’

With a frustrated Fernandes drowning in the tsunami currently raging over this discombobulated United side, he heads to Villa in a moment of sink or swim. And for the sake of his manager, and one of his biggest cheerleaders, it’s crucial he gets back afloat.