Rene Meulensteen has analysed three key qualities that have made Bruno Fernandes such an impactful player for Manchester United after the Brentford match on Monday.
Bruno Fernandes notched up his 19th Premier League assist of the 2025-26 campaign at Old Trafford after setting up Benjamin Sesko in the first half.
The 31-year-old Manchester United captain has assisted an impressive 11 times in the last 13 Premier League matches under interim head coach Michael Carrick.
Fernandes is now only one Premier League assist away from equalling the record for most assists in a single season, which is held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Bruno Fernandes gets another assist – the record is almost his!
Do you think he could get two in the next game vs Liverpool?!
Rene Meulensteen is deeply impressed by Bruno Fernandes’ traits in the Man Utd No 10 role under Michael Carrick
Bruno Fernandes experienced a slow start in the 2025-26 campaign after Ruben Amorim dropped the in-form Portugal international into a deeper midfield role.
However, Ruben Amorim’s sacking as Manchester United manager paved the way for Michael Carrick to unlock Fernandes’ key playmaking influence on the pitch.
Fernandes has enjoyed a resurgence in form and Rene Meulensteen has now singled out the United skipper’s intelligence, tactical attributes and decision-making ability.
Speaking after Man Utd’s 2-1 win over Brentford, Meulensteen explained on Premier League Productions: “If you talk about a player who makes a difference, he’s got the intelligence, the tactical attributes, going forward his decision making is mostly spot on.”
Where does playing Bruno Fernandes in a deeper role rank among Ruben Amorim’s mistakes?
Rene Meulensteen says Bruno Fernandes’ effectiveness was all but evident with his Man Utd assist against Brentford
Fernandes was at the heart of Man Utd’s late counterattack in the first half on Monday evening before he laid the ball off to Benjamin Sesko at Old Trafford.
Man Utd star Sesko timed his run superbly before he composed himself and fired his effort across Caoimhin Kelleher and into the back of the Brentford net in the tie.
Meulensteen added that Fernandes’ assist in the Brentford match was the perfect example of a Man Utd striker who is benefiting from the Portuguese midfielder’s skills.
“Forwards feed off windows of opportunities, then you have to find the right players at the right time,” he said, as per the Premier League’s official website.
“You saw a number of occasions tonight where that was happening, the Sesko goal being the best example of it.”
Fernandes has netted eight times and registered 20 assists in 33 matches across all competitions for Man Utd in the 2025-26 campaign at Old Trafford.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
