Sometimes players are victims of their own versatility.
Wayne Rooney, Manchester United’s all-time top goalscorer, was often shoved from pillar to post, including into central midfield, just because he was so good it didn’t matter where he played, able to plug injury absences or mask squad deficiencies.
This season, Bruno Fernandes could be forgiven for feeling like he is fulfilling the same responsibility. With Erik ten Hag shorn of depth in the forward department, the Portuguese playermaker, third in the chances created rankings this term, was deployed in a wide right role earlier in the campaign, somewhere alien to him, to accommodate others who lacked the dexterity to play in any other position than their own.
Then, in the last two games, with injuries to key personnel threatening to derail United’s top four charge, Fernandes has been deployed in a deep-lying central midfield spot, with Marcel Sabitzer not trusted to fulfil the defensive duties a successful player in that role needs to.
The major difference between Rooney and Fernandes, however, is that Fernandes’ forte – creating chances – has not suffered as a result. While Rooney’s goals, understandably, dried up, Fernandes created six chances in Saturday’s victory over Everton – in only two league games this season has he provided more.
The Portuguese has his detractors – but you put up with the histrionics as a manager when you have a player able to do their job, to the same high level, from anywhere on the pitch.
United are flagging – recent results and performances have suggested such. While just last month the more optimistic among their support were dreaming of an unfathomable title tilt, those who were aware of the limitations of the squad, below an over-performing first XI, could see this coming.
Getting over the line now will be down to keeping key forwards, namely Marcus Rashford, fit, stopping Casemiro chasing red more than a het-up bull hunting down a matador, and Lisandro Martinez and Raphaël Varane continuing their blossoming bromance.
The coach comes to the fore when any of those variables go wrong, especially so for Ten Hag, given the lack of quality reinforcements to come in. Fernandes, at this most crucial juncture of a campaign that can still fall flat, having promised so much, is a manager’s dream.
“When you miss players you have to find solutions as a manager, as a coaching staff,” Ten Hag said.
“Casemiro and Eriksen, when they are available there is no need to bring him [Fernandes] deeper, but when you miss them you have to find a solution to bring the ball up from the back, to get the build-up in, to progress the ball and to attack.
“We found the idea to bring Bruno down more deeper and he is doing brilliant. I think he is playing really good games.”
Six chances created against Everton, two of them long, raking pick-outs Tom Brady would have been proud of, all while winning possession more than any other midfielder on the pitch – Saturday’s outing was a captain-like performance from Fernandes, inspiring his side to a crucial victory, just as their rivals hoped another decline, one that is never too far away at post-Sir Alex Ferguson United, was on the horizon.
Any director will tell you when double-casting, having an actor to play multiple roles in any production is invaluable, for a variety of reasons. Fernandes is that versatile performer who Ten Hag needs to ensure this show has a happy ending.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/EUwNqmW
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