Ruben Amorim lays gauntlet down to Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United skipper can ‘step up a little bit more’ next season

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Manchester United could only muster a 0-0 draw against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon as Ruben Amorim oversaw a fairly dour affair.

Manchester derbies from years gone by have been full of tension, aggression and goals, but Sunday’s encounter offered none of those qualities.

This was a fairly boring affair as Manchester United drew 0-0 with Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Gary Neville fumed over United’s style of play as neither side really looked like scoring in a fairly uneventful stalemate.

United’s attention now turns onto the Europa League with Ruben Amorim gearing up to face Lyon on Thursday night.

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Ruben Amorim on Bruno Fernandes

Sunday’s game will not live long in the memory, with United failing to unlock the City back line.

United were beaten at Nottingham Forest in midweek, firing 23 shots on Matz Sels’ goal in that 1-0 defeat.

The draw with City saw United attempt 13 shots, but only two of them were on target.

United lacked quality in the final third, but Bruno Fernandes was involved throughout in another fine display.

Bruno may not have recorded a shot on target, but he notched three key passes as he attempted to create for teammates.

The United captain has been exceptional in recent weeks, but Amorim wants even more from him next season.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Amorim suggested that Bruno is United’s Mohamed Salah in terms of being an ‘essential’ player who makes a huge difference.

Amorim feels that Bruno has ‘really big quality’ and is ‘doing quite well’ in the United side, but wants to see him ‘step up a little bit more’ next season.

“That is clear but you look at other teams and they have players who are essential,” said Amorim. “If you look at Liverpool with [Mohamed] Salah, the difference that he makes. Bruno is our player in that department.

“He’s doing quite well. Everybody has to improve, and Bruno has to step up a little bit more next year because he has really big quality,” he added.

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Ruben Amorim clearly sees even more coming from Bruno Fernandes

That comment may be astonishing to some United fans, as Bruno has been United’s shining light for most of the season.

If anything, the rest of the United squad are the players who need to step up and reach Bruno’s level.

Bruno would be the last player many United fans would be demanding improvement from, but Amorim clearly sees even more coming from him next season.

Bruno landed the Premier League Player of the Month award for March and has been leading by example of late.

Maybe there is another gear for Bruno, and if Amorim can get that out of him, Premier League defenders should be concerned heading into next season.