Bruno Fernandes is proving critics wrong and on pace for his best United assist record

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Bruno Fernandes’ clipped pass for Cristiano Ronaldo against Tottenham was a piece of measured brilliance.

The Portuguese superstar has been busy showing this season that he does not require penalties to be a game changer.

Those arguments from rival fans and lazy pundits were always flawed anyway. Fernandes provided 18 assists last season after all.

This season Fernandes has 11 goal contributions in total, with each and every one coming from open play.

Breaking down Fernandes’ brilliance

Fernandes has scored four times this season for United. Three came in the opening day win over Leeds.

Last season he netted 28 times, so he is behind pace right now. But Fernandes’ numbers were inflated by penalties last season, and he has not scored any spot-kicks this season so far.

The one penalty Fernandes did have was against Aston Villa and he skied it over the bar. It remains to be seen who will take the next one.

Regardless, Fernandes does not need to rely on goalscoring to make an impact, as his assist numbers show.

This season Fernandes has seven assists so far, almost half the 18 he managed last season and it has only just turned November.

Creatively, the United star is blossoming, and all of his assists have come from open play rather than free-kicks or corners.

Two of his seven assists have come for Cristiano Ronaldo, and that is a partnership which is likely to grow even stronger as the season goes on.

The underlying numbers behind Fernandes’ creativity are impressive too.

FBRef.com report Fernandes has played the highest number of key passes in the Premier League, with 37. The second nearest player has 28.

Fernandes also ranks number one in the Champions League too, with 11 key passes in three games, more than any other players in the competition.

If he keeps on playing like this, it is very possible Fernandes ends up with 20 assists by time the season is done.

Add in the goals he will no doubt score too, and its clear United have a very special player who must not be taken for granted.

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