Three league games, two losses, including one against fierce rivals at home, but could the season be about to turn due to events outside Old Trafford?
Erik ten Hag hasn’t had a fine start to a “new era”, with questions around his future already swirling after the 0-3 home loss vs Liverpool.
The team as a whole has been extremely wasteful and none of the players seem to have that killer instinct to put the game away when they’re on top.
The international break was, thus, vital for the team and players to take a break from the club activities and on international duty, a Man Utd star has had a moment that could bring it all together when they return to Carrington.
Bruno Fernandes kicks into gear
No matter how laborious Manchester United are in their general play or which way the results are trending, there has been one constant at the club.
Bruno Fernandes has almost always come up with the goods when it mattered, as there hasn’t been a single season from him at Old Trafford where he hasn’t touched at least 20 goals and assists.
So far this season, Fernandes hasn’t been able to register either in the three league games, partly due to his own wastefulness and partly due to his teammates letting him down.
Therefore, his campaign needed to get off the ground urgently with a must-win set of fixtures looming on the horizon.
That’s exactly what happened, but not at United, as he put in a talismanic performance for Portugal in their 2-1 win vs Scotland.
Fernandes scored his first goal of the season to add to his assist for Diogo Dalot in Portugal’s first game of the international break vs Croatia.
Over the last two years or so, Portugal has been Fernandes’ safe haven when he’s struggling at United.
It’s where he gets his form and confidence back and more often than not, carries it into the club season where Ten Hag’s side benefits from it.
Expectations from Fernandes
Needless to say, regardless of how many signings United make, Fernandes remains the first name on the teamsheet.
Beyond his raw goal contribution stats, he remains the beating heart of the team on the pitch and the squad looks far less than the sum of its parts when he’s absent.
With Ten Hag already entering the must-win territory, starting with a game away to newly-promoted Southampton on September 14, Fernandes needs to be the talisman again.
There are three players who could return from injuries vs Southampton which should help the Portuguese midfielder, but he’s the main man.
United will also be kicking off their League Cup campaign with a home game against Barnsley just two days after so the games will come thick and fast now.
Therefore, Fernandes’ first goal of the season has come at the perfect time for all three parties- Portugal national team, Manchester United, and Bruno Fernandes.
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