Manchester United have had to cope without club captain Bruno Fernandes for the previous two Premier League matches. The Red Devils will also be without the Portuguese Magnifico for the upcoming trip to Leeds.
Ruben Amorim is eager to get key players back from injury, as well as the AFCON, which is responsible for the absence of three starters such as Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui.
That has made it a tricky festive period for United, with Amorim short on options in midfield and still unsure what defensive shape to persist with after chopping and changing between recent matches. Amorim has had to call upon Academy players to step up, with many of them handed their first-team debuts, including Jack Fletcher.
Perhaps the biggest loss right now is Fernandes, considering how influential he has been to United in the past, even in struggling teams, as he’d often find a spark that can force positive results.
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Despite sitting in a more disciplined role alongside Casemiro this season, Fernandes has five goals and seven assists to his name in the Premier League. He remains one of the most creative players in the top division, so his absence has unsurprisingly led to a shortage of goals being scored by Amorim’s side.
Amorim will be trying to pick a team that will help United secure three points against Leeds, but it doesn’t help that Fernandes won’t be available, given he’s usually one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Man Utd players quizzing Ruben Amorim’s tactical instructions
United have faced many challenges this season. Amorim has been unable to make United a force in the Premier League, although the results have improved slightly following his disastrous initial campaign.
The Red Devils are still struggling with consistency, though. They are sitting sixth in the Premier League and hope to be knocking on the door for the Champions League spots, but that requires winning matches consistently and not dropping points against beatable opponents such as Wolves.
A new exclusive report from the Daily Mail looks at Amorim’s tactical setup this week and how it has led to more questions than answers around Carrington. The bottom line is that club chiefs are concerned by how easily the head coach’s tactics are being picked apart by other teams in the league.
It is claimed that ‘players appeared to be confused by Amorim’s tactics against Wolves,’ which shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the team looked better in a back four system the previous week before reverting to a 3-4-2-1 system. Other examples included switching Patrick Dorgu from the right wing to the left flank, after the Denmark international impressed against Newcastle in the game prior.
The report also provides insight into the role Fernandes’ injury has played in the dressing room.
Fernandes, 31, is trusted as a wingman type figure for Amorim, but it is understood that players have been casting more ‘quizzical looks at the manager’s instructions’ with the captain absent due to injury.
This would suggest that Amorim is losing power in the United dressing room, or that he doesn’t have enough to lead the dressing room when Fernandes isn’t there to help. It also explains why he wanted to keep his compatriot at the club in the summer.
What is your message to Ruben Amorim ahead of Man Utd’s visit to Leeds?
What does he need to change after the Wolves draw?
Bruno Fernandes injury latest
Fernandes has been sidelined with a hamstring injury he picked up in United’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa last month.
Amorim has not given a specific return date, but he will be eager to get his star player back as soon as possible.
It was joked that Fernandes was trying to convince Amorim to let him play against Wolves, but no risks were taken on that front.
Fernandes is expected to return at some point in January.
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