Fernandes Faces Injury Setback as United Eyes Momentum

omidbasir- Since joining Manchester United in January 2020, Bruno Fernandes has not missed more than three Premier League games in a single season. However, he is now expected to be sidelined for at least four matches due to a soft tissue injury. United managed to secure a narrow 1-0 victory against Newcastle on Boxing Day, despite Fernandes’ absence.

Coach Amorim has confirmed that Fernandes will not participate in the upcoming fixtures against Wolves and Leeds United, and it is likely he will also miss the match against Burnley on January 8. Nonetheless, Amorim remains hopeful that Fernandes will be fit to return for the derby against Manchester City on January 17. He elaborated on Fernandes’ active involvement with the team, even when he is unable to play or train.

In a recent press conference, Amorim stated, “He cannot be that guy who, when he is not playing, stops communicating. He is always engaging with the team, which is why he is the captain. While he may sometimes express frustration with his body language, his positive contributions are significant. Even during recovery, he consistently watches his teammates train. There’s a lot that goes unseen, but he embodies leadership. I don’t know if he wants my job, but he is definitely a leader.”

In the match against Newcastle, United fielded a familiar back four for the first time during Amorim’s tenure, despite his previous insistence that “not even the Pope could convince me to change.” He expressed confidence in the players’ ability to adapt to his tactical approach, emphasizing that the formation adjustments are not made due to media pressure.

Amorim explained, “When I joined last season, I recognized that our squad might not be suited for my preferred system initially; it was merely the start of our journey. We are now establishing an identity, and the players understand the rationale behind our changes. It is not influenced by media or fan pressure but is rooted in our understanding of how we want to play while maintaining the same principles.

“We can adjust our system, and I believe it will enhance our performance. Once all players return, we won’t exclusively utilize three defenders. However, if I were to frequently alter the system based on external pressure, it would undermine my authority as a manager. Thus, when we perform well within our current system, that’s the appropriate time for change.”

United has a prime opportunity to achieve back-to-back Premier League victories for only the second time under Amorim, facing Wolves next. Wolves have struggled throughout the season, accumulating just two points and holding the record for the worst start in the history of the English top flight. They also have the poorest record among all clubs in the top 14 leagues across Europe.

Earlier this month, the Red Devils convincingly defeated Wolves 4-1, although they were the first team to concede a league goal against them in six matches. Amorim highlighted the unpredictability of the Premier League, noting Wolves’ near draw against league leaders Arsenal. Despite acknowledging the challenges both teams face, he stressed the necessity of building momentum from the victory against Newcastle and securing a win against Rob Edwards’ winless side.

He remarked, “We absolutely need to capitalize on this. They proved against Arsenal that they could have earned at least a point. The Premier League is unpredictable. They have their issues, and we have ours. But in this match, there are no excuses. We need to secure the win. We will strive to win the game.”