Nicky Butt has singled out Bruno Fernandes as one of the three key Manchester United players who have been transformed under Michael Carrick at Old Trafford.
Bruno Fernandes has found the back of the net once and registered four assists in five Premier League matches under Red Devils interim head coach Michael Carrick.
Bruno Fernandes is up there with United’s greats in the Premier League era
Do you think Bruno can get to 300 combined goals and assists for United?
The 31-year-old Manchester United captain has taken his goalscoring tally to six and his assist tally to 13 in 25 matches across all competitions in the 2025-26 season.
Carrick’s tactical approach at Man Utd has instantly benefited Fernandes, who was playing in a deeper midfield role under Ruben Amorim in the current campaign.
Ruben Amorim’s divisive tactical system at United has been thrown to the wayside and Carrick has pushed Fernandes back into the No 10 role under his tactics.
READ MORE: Gary Lineker reacts as Micah Richards compares Jude Bellingham’s ‘aura’ to Man Utd icon Eric Cantona
Nicky Butt’s verdict on Bruno Fernandes and Co after Michael Carrick’s tactical pivot with Man Utd
Bruno Fernandes has impressed in his advanced attacking position at No 10 and has been playing behind Bryan Mbeumo, who has been deployed as the lone forward.
Despite Bryan Mbeumo’s strong run of form under Michael Carrick, Nicky Butt feels that Fernandes, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo have all benefited the most so far.
Prove us wrong… Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes are the best midfield trio in the Premier League
There is not another trio we would swap them for!
“When you play football, you want to be loved,” he said on TNT Sports.
“You want to be appreciated for what you do on the pitch, and I think he’s shown that to a few players in the squad.
“Certainly, Kobbie, and others. He’s put his arm around them and said, ‘I believe in you.’
“I’m sure he’s done that with Casemiro as well, because he’s been a totally different player over the last four games.
“Kobbie is another, and Bruno has been fantastic since Michael came in. Those three are now playing together, full of belief, playing the right way. That’s a complete little unit.”
READ MORE: Nicky Butt predicts Man Utd finish as Michael Carrick tipped for ‘totally different’ Everton test
Nicky Butt on what Michael Carrick has brought to the table as Man Utd interim head coach
Kobbie Mainoo has enjoyed a resurgence in form under Carrick and has started and played the full 90 minutes of Manchester United’s last five Premier League matches.
Casemiro has been Carrick’s preferred midfield partner for Mainoo in the two-man pivot and the Man Utd midfielder has enjoyed a superb run of form as well.
United legend Butt suggested that the transformation of the Red Devils first-team squad can be seen in the “belief” that Carrick has now installed at Old Trafford.
How many points will Man Utd get from the next five games? Let’s hear your predictions/hopes…
Michael Carrick took 13 points from his first five…
“You can see the players going out on the pitch thinking: ‘We’re Manchester United, and we can beat anybody,’” he said.
“It hasn’t been like that for a while. Since Michael’s come in, that belief is what he’s brought back.
“When you play football, you want to be loved. You want to be appreciated for what you do on the pitch, and I think he’s shown that to a few players in the squad.”
The Red Devils were in action on Tuesday evening and Man Utd secured a 1-1 draw against West Ham in their Premier League clash at the London Stadium.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
