Bruno Fernandes’ performance raised one major question for Manchester United fans after the Red Devils played out a 1-1 Premier League draw at Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon.
The Red Devils were awarded a penalty in the first half after Mason Mount was brought down in a challenge from Fulham defender Calvin Bassey inside the box.
VAR intervened after the initial penalty call was dismissed and Chris Kavanagh was called over to the pitchside monitor, with the referee then pointing to the spot.
But Bernd Leno would not even be tested from the penalty spot after Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes sent his shot flying over the bar with his effort.
United and Fulham went into half-time with a 0-0 scoreline on the board at Craven Cottage on Sunday before the Red Devils broke the deadlock in the second half.
Leny Yoro’s headed effort from a Bryan Mbeumo corner kick took a huge deflection off Rodrigo Muniz, with Bernd Leno unable to keep the ball out of the Fulham net.
However, Fulham were able to cancel out United’s second-half opener and snatched a point on Sunday after substitute Emile Smith Rowe netted a crucial equaliser.
Bruno Fernandes’ Man Utd performance against Fulham revealed one key detail at Craven Cottage
Bruno Fernandes played in the two-man midfield pivot alongside Casemiro and he saw out the full 90 minutes of Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against Fulham.
However, United fans on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, were quick to suggest that Fernandes will continue to struggle alongside Casemiro.
“Our midfield really needs a lot of work; can’t imagine a Bruno-Case[miro] pivot for the rest of the season,” one United fan argued.
Another Red Devils supporter suggested: “I don’t think I can fathom a whole season of Bruno [and] Casemiro as the midfield pivot.”
While a third posted: “How does [Kobbie] Mainoo not make the starting XI? This double pivot of Casemiro and Bruno has no concept of control.”
“This Bruno-Casemiro pivot has to stop,” someone else tweeted.
Another X user claimed: “Bruno x Casemiro is the worst combination for a double pivot.”
“We’re going to see this Bruno performance a lot if he keeps playing in a pivot,” a sixth added.
Somebody else commented: “Playing Bruno Fernandes in the pivot and wondering why we can’t gain any control or sustain attacks.”
And an eighth said: “Amorim need[s] to find a solution to our midfield because [the] Bruno-Casemiro pivot is not working at all.”
Bruno Fernandes’ role for Man Utd in the midfield is something that could now haunt Ruben Amorim
Casemiro made way in the second half and was replaced by Diogo Dalot in the 52nd minute, with Mason Mount initially dropping deeper alongside Fernandes in midfield.
Ruben Amorim played the midfield pivot of Casemiro and Fernandes in his tactical system for United’s 1-0 Premier League loss to Arsenal at Old Trafford last Sunday.
Fernandes has been forced into a deeper role in the team after the summer signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from Wolves and Brentford respectively.
The 30-year-old Portugal midfielder has so far struggled to exert the same influence from a deeper role and Fernandes had another forgettable performance for United.
The situation surrounding Fernandes in the deeper role is now an area of concern that United manager Ruben Amorim cannot overlook after the first two matches of the season.
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