ELLAND ROAD — Bruno Fernandes is becoming a major problem. His form is alarming, the histrionics are becoming unbearable, while his body language deserves some of the consternation that has come his way in the past few weeks.
He hasn’t become a bad player overnight – the Manchester United skipper was light years ahead of any other Premier League player last term – but he nonetheless needs taking out the firing line, before he damages his legacy and ruins another season for his besieged side.
While wins remain elusive after a 1-1 draw at Leeds United – that is two victories from 10 in all competitions – there has been a marginal improvement in the last few games. Without Fernandes and his gesticulations stifling vigour and endeavour in the middle of the park.
Fernandes was deployed in a wide role again at Elland Road and was largely frustrating and ineffective – a game that was a microcosm of his season.
Further back, however, Carlos Baleba enjoyed an excellent first half, bringing some much-needed energy and running, Andrey Santos was not overawed by the febrile home following, while Youri Tielemans registered one assist and generally offered a cunning threat for much of the encounter.
The fact Fernandes stayed on all match is a concern, a sign that Michael Carrick has not got the gall to hook his beleaguered skipper, even at his lowest ebb.
Carrick does, however, deserve credit for addressing the problems in the middle of the park. Now it is time for the unthinkable in the coming weeks – everyone could benefit from a Fernandes breather.
“He’s all right, it’s not a big deal,” Carrick said of Fernandes. “He played a slightly different position in midweek, but apart from that, it’s pretty much as usual. And he’s an important part of our team. He has been for us for some time, and that’s not changing.
“There was a freshness to the group. You look at the midfield with Carlos and Andrey, that’s a pretty fresh spine of the team, through the middle of the pitch. And both young players adapting to life at this football club, and I thought both of them were terrific today. I thought they both did really well in midweek, so that’s a massive positive for us.”
The first half played out exactly as an under-pressure Carrick would have wanted. With United on the ropes, and Leeds without a home defeat in seven coming into the clash, the hosts’ fervent following smelled blood, a first victory at Elland Road over their rivals from across the Pennines in 24 years in the offing.
The atmosphere was feverish. Songs started out about Eric Cantona but quickly got worse. The visitors needed to avoid a repeat of their nightmare start in Madrid on Wednesday or things could have turned even nastier.
After stifling Leeds in the opening 20 minutes, led by Lisandro Martinez at the back, starting despite calling out the club’s hierarchy after the Atletico Madrid loss, United slowly started to play more expansively, deservedly taking the lead late in the 35th minute through Bryan Mbeumo, on the end of a fine Tielemans cross.
It was as well controlled a 45 minutes as United had put together all season. Baleba was a class above on the ball. Serenity does not last long with modern-day United, however, as six minutes into the second half, they crumbled once more.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was left all alone to level, sparking pandemonium in the stands. A vulnerable United were looking a shadow of their first-half selves.
The game was there for the taking for either side, but the visitors faded as an attacking force, while Leeds suffered from a severe bout of profligacy.
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There was still time for one final Fernandes head-loss, as he screamed into the crisp West Yorkshire air after a stepover didn’t come off. Not his fault, of course.
The wide forward position is one of the few areas of the squad United are well stocked in, so shoehorning Fernandes into a position Marcus Rashford or Matheus Cunha can be deployed in is somewhat counterproductive.
Carrick remains under the utmost scrutiny. Wins are a must to at least see him through to Christmas. He does, however, seem to have cracked the midfield code. Fernandes should, for the time being, not be part of those plans.