Manchester United could take some positives from their 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa but there was glaring ramification aside from the result.
During the latter stages of the first half at Villa Park, United captain Bruno Fernandes pulled up with an apparent hamstring injury.
He played the remainder of that half but did not reappear after the interval and was replaced at half-time by Lisandro Martinez.
And speaking about his playmaker's injury, United manager Ruben Amorim said his playmaker is set for a spell on the sidelines.
'It was a soft tissue injury so he will miss some games for sure,' Amorim conceded during his post-match interview.
'You can never control these things. He is a guy who is always fit so he can recover quite well.'
It is unclear how long Fernandes will be out for but the 31-year-old's absence from the Red Devils line-up has been a rarity since making his debut on February 1, 2020.
In fact it's so rare that it's almost hard to believe.
Manchester United host Newcastle on Boxing Day but Fernandes' absence will just be the fourth time he has missed a game due to injury or illness.
He missed one game with the flu in March of 2022 and two games because of a knee injury in May 2024.
Breaking it down further, Fernandes really is United's metronome.
In 292 matches in all competitions with Fernandes starting, United boast a 51.7 per cent win ratio and 45.2 per cent without.
The win percentage discrepancy is even bigger when you focus on the Premier League solely.
In the 208 games the playmaker has played in the English top-flight United have a 48.6 win percentage, without him it drops off to an alarming 29.4 per cent.
The impact of losing Fernandes has dawned on team-mate Diogo Dalot who described it as a 'massive' blow.
'It's massive. We don't know how bad it is but for him to come off, we know how tough he is,' Dalot said after the Aston Villa loss. 'Hopefully it's not too bad and we keep with him for the next games.
'This is the time that opportunities come for other players and the time you step up and show you deserve to be in the team and play more minutes.
'I think that's how the players who get opportunities should look at it. We are Manchester United and we have to find a way to win.'
The last sentence has been hard enough with Fernandes in the side as of late, so they will need to be at their very best for Boxing Day's clash against Newcastle and beyond while their captain gets on the mend.
hikbdeilny
0
Man United should go for LookMan
UjoAbx
0
plz ask amorin, after these results of games, did he evaluate himself is it worthy to be a UTD coach? he might be a UTD fan, consider this as a UTD fan
mozdeiry
0
Playing or not playing with Bruno,Man United win percentage doesn’t seem like got any improvement there is no difference look back for few couple of game results then you will understand what I mean.[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
feybilpst
0
Amorim need to wake up to used players in their rightfully positions or else he must be sacked players will get injuries if he doesn't stop his stupid behaviour and formation
feybilpst
0
Amorim is the reason why for Bruno Fernandez injury he's using Bruno Fernandez out of his position and Amad,Dalot, dorgu, and mason mount is winger and he's playing in Bruno Fernandez position
Game-analyser
0
Amorim has put Lisandro martines in the modfield and he played very calmly in that position very comfortable with ball as always….he can be that holding midfielder ….martines and casemiro can be a good duo… Midfield will be more balanced as both will protect the the goal very well..even tbough Brunos creativity will be missed…so that responsibility restvin the shoulder of mason mount… I believe we will cope without bruno
ksantos
0
It is obvious he is the only creative player we have
Babacdlnst
1
yoro Mus branch first
Babacdlnst
1
man u can not win Manuel Ugarte and yoro on the defender never
Muahoscar
0
#Bruno out
abdulgg
1
no Bruno Fernandez 💪. no. happy bcuz no one better than him always 👏
Davichi
0
I know your idolize your idols IOGAF. i know what I know about my players and if don’t agree with my opinion go fawk yourself man I never said Bruno was bad he’s a good player maybe not good enough and this dude want to take all Credit to himself that’s not how it done in United get that right dummy now I know there’s a lot of bunch fake average fans on here smh
And when did Bruno come out to take credits for anything? Those footballers who actually do so, you won't see them to complain about. It's Bruno who has given his all for United. Bruno is so unfortunate to be in an era with so many unserious, average players, otherwise you won't be able to talk trash about him. You're just a disgruntled child who sees Bruno as his problem. You can keep saying rubbish, but it means nothing... I'd waste no more time with you. 🤡
Jelasidown
0
Dorgu's crosses into the box were all poor
Jelasidown
2
His replacement, Martinez did not disappoint. He had two if not three shots on target
Luddkmpsuy
0
29.4 per cent yes you win games without bruno… like 3 out of ten. 😂 not even if you draw the other 7 it’s good enough. (16 points from 30 available)
Like we don’t lose with him on the Yesterday with him we lose with or without him on the pitch and to you people Bruno’s your messiah. United will be united without him facts!
Luddkmpsuy
0
There's something seriously wrong with your. Go for help.
You need help and I can help you if you can come for consultation🤝
GunnArs
0
Like we don’t win games without him smh. With or without him United will be united. GGMU🔴
29.4 per cent yes you win games without bruno… like 3 out of ten. 😂 not even if you draw the other 7 it’s good enough. (16 points from 30 available)
Everblessed10
2
Watch united slide down the table in rapid succession without so many players missing and not enough top quality in the squad. How can a big team have no depth 🙄
Luddkmpsuy
0
You're just saying nonsense. Selfish, egoistic? Are you talking about Bruno or Ronaldo? Bruno has been the most selfless player at United since he joined. Maybe you watch the back of your TV. How is he the one with most chances created in the whole of the EPL, if he's selfish? How come he never has an issue with a team mate or coach if he's egoistic? 🤦 Just stop all these crap.
I know your idolize your idols IOGAF. i know what I know about my players and if don’t agree with my opinion go fawk yourself man I never said Bruno was bad he’s a good player maybe not good enough and this dude want to take all Credit to himself that’s not how it done in United get that right dummy now I know there’s a lot of bunch fake average fans on here smh
Davichi
0
You can help if you can I just want you to go and tell him to sit back for a month or more so we can see. I wonder what people think of United if we never had him in the club, i understand to you he’s a messiah but my own type messiah don’t have to be selfish and egoistic get that right man🤝
You're just saying nonsense. Selfish, egoistic? Are you talking about Bruno or Ronaldo? Bruno has been the most selfless player at United since he joined. Maybe you watch the back of your TV. How is he the one with most chances created in the whole of the EPL, if he's selfish? How come he never has an issue with a team mate or coach if he's egoistic? 🤦 Just stop all these crap.
Davichi
2
With all these stats, some silly United fans will still insist that Bruno is the problem of the club. Some humans are just impossible.
Luddkmpsuy
0
Assumption without prove. 🤡
You can help if you can I just want you to go and tell him to sit back for a month or more so we can see. I wonder what people think of United if we never had him in the club, i understand to you he’s a messiah but my own type messiah don’t have to be selfish and egoistic get that right man🤝
Davichi
1
Like we don’t win games without him smh. With or without him United will be united. GGMU🔴
There's something seriously wrong with your. Go for help.
Davichi
0
How many time have he go for a month without playing?? If you’re available you will be used that’s the case on him. With or without him we will win games even more better.
Assumption without prove. 🤡
nanackltyz
3
bamadiloty
0
dark period 🥹🥹🥹
Has there been light period
bamadiloty
3
The way Man U bragged when they signed Yoro 🤣🤣🤣🤣 they even bragged that they beat Madrid to his signature
reeabiklu
5
The was fine dominating villa but Yoro again cost united big time something is really wrong with yoro since from Everton game his performance awful costing united points not tackling not being aggressive not being serious just lazy and realaxing look at villa first a ball dats almost going outside yoro was there looking that guy went there and control dat still come and past him and curl too the net 😪😪 very disappointing
Luddkmpsuy
0
and how many games has united won with Bruno 🤣🤣
How many time have he go for a month without playing?? If you’re available you will be used that’s the case on him. With or without him we will win games even more better.
Deacdorsz
0
How many games has Bruno missed?
and how many games has united won with Bruno 🤣🤣
Jowbclmsuy
1
How many games has Bruno missed?
nicklptz
2
the team was ok that Yoro dreaming player costed us big time
Luddkmpsuy
1
Like we don’t win games without him smh. With or without him United will be united. GGMU🔴
Ceplnprtu
0
dark period 🥹🥹🥹