Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov highlighted the importance of Bruno Fernandes’ influence on Michael Carrick’s first-team squad on Sunday.
Bruno Fernandes was denied his record-tying 20th Premier League assist at the weekend in Manchester United’s 3-2 win over rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.
The 31-year-old Man Utd captain’s header was denied by Freddie Woodman before Benjamin Sesko pushed the ball over the line to put the Red Devils 2-0 up.
Fernandes played the majority of United’s encounter against Liverpool before Michael Carrick withdrew him in the dying stages of the Premier League match.
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Dimitar Berbatov on the elite qualities that Bruno Fernandes has in his Man Utd arsenal under Michael Carrick
Bruno Fernandes has registered an impressive 11 Premier League assists in Michael Carrick’s 14-match reign since Ruben Amorim was axed from the Red Devils.
The Portugal midfielder has been thriving in the second half of the 2025-26 campaign at Old Trafford after being deployed in the No 10 role for the Red Devils.
Fernandes has 20 assists and has netted eight times in 34 matches across all competitions, with Dimitar Berbatov singling out three qualities he admires.
When asked where Man Utd would be in the table without Fernandes’ influence, Berbatov told Premier League Productions: “Probably not where they are now.
“They would probably be [in the top 10]. But it’s so difficult for them to get that creation, what Bruno brings – making chances, assisting, scoring goals.”
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Dimitar Berbatov on Bruno Fernandes in the No 10 role for Man Utd and his playmaking ability
Fernandes’ influence was curtailed earlier in the season after ex-Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim relied on the midfielder in the two-man midfield pivot.
Berbatov explained that Fernandes perfectly understands what it takes to play as a No 10, including reading the opposition’s defensive set-up before making his pass.
“I love that when the ball [comes] to him, he watches the defensive line, the stuff the typical number 10 will show,” he said ahead of the Liverpool match, as per the Premier League’s official website.
I’m happy he’s finally back playing high up the pitch, up there, creating, making chances, scoring goals, not dropping back in defence.”
Man Utd will now travel to the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon and the Red Devils will face Sunderland for a 3pm kick-off time in the UK.
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