What Carlos Fernandes was heard shouting to Man United players to nullify Arsenal’s set-piece threat

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Journalist Carl Anka kept a close eye on Ruben Amorim’s assistant Carlos Fernandes when Manchester United were defending set-pieces.

Manchester United know exactly how dangerous Arsenal are at set-pieces. When the two sides met in the Premier League in December, Ruben Amorim tasted defeat for the first time since moving to England.

The Gunners won 2-0 on that occasion with both goals coming from set pieces. After the full-time whistle, Amorim urged United to improve from set-pieces for the FA Cup clash.

The work put in at Carrington was put to the test during Sunday’s third-round clash and United passed with flying colours. Arsenal once again played for set pieces and earned 12 corners during the match, but United coped brilliantly.

Altay Bayindir was United’s hero on the day and the Turkish shot-stopper came out to claim Arsenal’s crosses whenever possible. Harry Maguire was “immense” and Matthijs de Ligt also played a big part in defending United’s box from Arsenal’s aerial threat.

Ruben Amorim praises Carlos Ferandes for set-piece improvement

After conceding from set-pieces to Arsenal and Bournemouth in December, Amorim was quick to defend his assistant coach Carlos Fernandes.

Amorim said: “The responsibility of everything is on me, not Carlos. We are a team in good moments and bad moments.”

However, after beating Arsenal on Sunday, Amorim piled praise on Fernandes and his role in defending set-pieces.

“The set pieces is not my part and today we were amazing at set pieces,” Amorim said. “Carlos (Fernandes) was really good, Andreas (Georgson) was really good and Manuel (Ferro) was really good.”

Amorim is a brilliant communicator and he showed exactly why here. He gave his coaching staff a deserved moment in the limelight having previously refused to throw them under the bus.

What Carlos Fernandes was heard shouting to Man United players

Fernandes is very much Amorim’s right-hand man. When Amorim was hired by United from Sporting, he insisted his staff follow.

• Meet Carlos Fernandes, the 29-year-old who is Man Utd-bound with Ruben Amorim as he overhauls the staff

Journalist Carl Anka was at The Emirates to watch United’s cup win and on the Talk of the Devils podcast, he spoke about Fernandes’ role in defending set pieces.

“Something that was quite interesting at The Emirates is that when Arsenal had a corner kick, Amorim would sit down and Carlos Fernandes would come out on the touchline and start barking orders,” Anka said.

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“There was one free-kick in the first half where I watched Carlos shout again and again and again about where he wanted United players to stand.

“He was barking over and over again about the back post coverage in particular. Just as the Arsenal set piece was being delivered, he walked away in half disgust that they weren’t precisely where they needed to be.”