For a man whose trademark celebration is covering his ears, there is nothing Bruno Fernandes can do to silence the claims that Manchester United are heading for a title challenge this season.
The Red Devils currently sit second in the Premier League table – level on points with leaders and reigning champions Liverpool, despite having played a game less.
If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had to pinpoint a moment when his tenure as Manchester United boss took a dramatic turn for the better ironically it wouldn’t be a result, performance or trophy but most likely January 30, 2020.
That was when United signed midfield maestro Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon for an initial £47million, which could rise due to various performance-based add-ons, in a deal that now looks like a stroke of genius for the price.
Fernandes made his debut straight away and played 90 minutes in a goalless draw at home to Wolves on February 1.
On the day that United signed Fernandes they were fifth in the league – struggling on just 34 points from 24 games. A year on and they are now only a point (33 points) worse off after just 16 games and are firmly in the title race, thanks to the Fernandes effect.
Liverpool’s shock 1-0 defeat away at Southampton on Monday evening puts United in an even better position than ever previously imaginable.
Just months ago, if you had offered any Red Devils’ fan a chance to be joint-top (only being denied by goal difference) after 16 games of the Premier League season they would have laughed in your face, while quickly following that by snapping your hand instantly.
United’s next league game comes on Tuesday night, against 16th-placed Burnley away at Turf Moor. This is followed by arguably their biggest and most anticipated league game in over half a decade – and probably since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson – when they travel to Liverpool in a top of the table clash on January 17. Win both of these games and United will sit top of the tree, an astonishing six points clear after 18 games. But realistically, even a draw against Liverpool would be seen as more than a solid result as they would still sit four points clear.
The story of United’s season, and the last 12 months is not one of consistency. Two months ago they were in disarray and endured embarrassment in Europe across November and December too as they crashed out of the Champions League group stages. This was all despite getting off to an excellent start winning at Paris Saint-Germain and thumping RB Leipzig. However, they went on to lose three of their next four games – including an awful defeat at Istanbul Basaksehir – and now have Europa League football to be content with come February.
November started off poorly for United as they lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal. However, since the loss Solskjaer’s side enjoyed an excellent run of eight wins and two draws in the league.
This run started on November 7 when United found themselves 15th in the table with just seven points from six games going into a tricky tie at high-flying Everton. Pressure on Solskjaer was mounting but he answered his critics with a 3-1 at Everton.
But who was it who scored twice in seven first-half minutes that day to ultimately rescue Solskjaer? Fernandes, of course – highlighting the impact he has had since moving to England.
His importance is exemplified by the fact the Portuguese international almost single-handedly dragged his side to a top-four finish last season.
Going into the final league game of the 2019-20 season United travelled to Leicester City. If United avoided defeat at the King Power Stadium they would finish in the top four, if their opponents won then they would qualify in the Champions League at their expense.
However, who was it who scored a penalty in the 72nd minute to put United in a lead that they would never let go of? You guessed it, Fernandes.
Despite being six points outside of the Champions League places when Fernandes joined, they finished the season in third – four-points above fifth-placed Leicester.
Incredibly, they gained 32 points in their last 14 games in that league campaign with Fernandes in the team.
In just the second half of last season alone, Fernandes contributed eight goals and seven assists in his 14 league games – averaging more than a contribution a game.
To highlight the turnaround at United since the arrival of Fernandes, we can now look at their points return in the top flight since his debut on February 1, 2020.
Since that point they have taken 65 points from 30 games playing with Fernandes.
If you were to make a league table between the point when Fernandes signed and now, United would be top – with three points more than reigning champions Liverpool and nine more than rivals Manchester City (although they have played two games less in that time).
This season Fernandes has arguably gone one step further, making 18 key contributions in just 16 games in the league – scoring 11 times and making seven assists.
This means since joining the 26-year-old has netted 19 times and made 14 assists in just 32 games. That’s a sensational return of 33 goal contributions in just 32 games and quite simply world class.
Since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, Manchester United have spent over a jaw-dropping £1billion on signing 36 different players.
Some have succeeded, most have flopped. But have the Red Devils finally found the key that unlocks the door to a title challenge for the first in almost a decade in Fernandes? Quite possibly.
By George Venn
