Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag reveals true feelings of Bruno Fernandes’ performances | Football | Sport
Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes has been deployed in a deeper role in recent weeks and Erik ten Hag has been impressed with how the midfielder has fared. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen have been absent through suspension and injury, but the latter returned against Everton on Saturday.
Marcel Sabitzer and Scott McTominay have been used in roles more advanced than Fernandes as Ten Hag has attempted to cope with the absentees in the middle of the pitch, having left some supporters confused as they feel that the Portuguese playmaker is better suited to getting on the ball in the final third.
The change has coincided with Wout Weghorst being left out of the team and Jadon Sancho included in his place, switching Marcus Rashford to a central striker. Before the visit of Everton, Ten Hag was asked if his side needed more goalscorers outside of Rashford, and responded: “Bruno we know it [he can score goals].
“He’s now playing in a little bit deeper role so he’s further away from the goal but we have goal-scoring players in our squad. We have to work on our scoring abilities but also we have to think about the transfer market, yes.
“He played there against Newcastle and against Fulham. We miss Casemiro, we miss Eriksen, so we have to find a balance in the middle and I think Bruno is doing a good job over there.
“Antony already scored a couple of goals – seven or eight goals – scoring in big games, it’s not bad for a winger, right? In his first season. Also against big opponents like Barcelona, Betis. Sancho, he has a period out, [Anthony] Martial can definitely do it.”
Fernandes has shown his versatility on several occasions so far this season, as he has been deployed on both wings, his favoured number 10 position and a deeper role to combat the absences of Casemiro and Eriksen.
It is unlikely that he will continue playing deep post-Everton, however, as Eriksen could make his first start in Thursday’s Europa League tie with Sevilla.
Casemiro is also available as his four-match suspension did not affect European games, though the match at home to the Toffees is the fourth and final game of his ban and he will be ready to return to action.
