Bruno Fernandes: cause or consequence of Manchester United's slow Premier League start?
On 13 October 2026 Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes had played every minute of his side's six Premier League matches and had registered three goals and one assist — all of which came in the 30 August win over Ipswich — figures that contrast with his output in 2025-26.
Bruno Fernandes has scored 111 goals in 335 appearances for Manchester United and was named PFA Player of the Year for 2025-26 after also winning the Premier League and Football Writers' awards; he finished that campaign with nine goals and 21 assists, breaking a Premier League record jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne. Over the final 11 games of that season he either scored or created 12 of United's 21 goals, and during the seven-game run that secured Champions League qualification he was involved in nine of 12 goals. Speaking at the Manchester Opera House he said: "It was a special season for me," and added, "I am very proud. "But we don't play tennis. We don't play just for ourselves. We play for a team, we play for a club, we play for the fans. There is nothing more special than that."
Last season Fernandes began the campaign playing in a deeper midfield role Ruben Amorim preferred; in that period he scored twice in the opening six league games and failed to create any. This term his only goal involvements came in the Ipswich match, when he scored a hat-trick and provided his sole assist of the season so far on 30 August. Despite featuring in every minute of United's six Premier League fixtures, his decisive contributions have been concentrated in that single victory.
Underneath the raw figures, Fernandes' detailed metrics show changes. He is averaging 3.3 shots per game this season — his second-highest rate behind a 3.5 average in 2020-21 — yet his shots on target average is just 0.8, a joint-second low for his time at Old Trafford. His chance creation is 2.5 per game, the second lowest of his United career and down from 4.0 last season, and he has produced only one "big chance" so far compared with an average of one per game last term.
United have taken six points from their opening six Premier League fixtures, their worst start to a league campaign in 40 years when Ron Atkinson was eventually sacked to make way for Sir Alex Ferguson. There is also uncertainty over Fernandes' fitness after he was left out of Portugal's recent Nations League game with Norway when national coach Jorge Jesus said the former Sporting man was "playing through pain"; he was fit enough to return for the final two internationals of the break and had completed the full 90 minutes in the 4-0 Champions League win against Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK. On his condition, United manager Michael Carrick said: "He was carrying something but that happens a lot," adding, "Players play with issues. "It's not ideal but it is manageable. Bruno is able to play. That is the commitment he has got. "He is pretty much over it, was really bright in training this morning and is looking forward to the game."
Team departures and absences have altered the environment in which Fernandes operates. Benjamin Sesko had been a regular in the number nine role while Casemiro served as the midfield anchor; of Sesko's nine league goals in 2026 Fernandes created four, and Fernandes created four of the final five goals Casemiro scored as a Manchester United player from 1 February onwards. Casemiro left for Inter Miami in the summer, and the piece notes his positioning and game knowledge remain of a high standard even if his departure does not fully explain current low running statistics.
Squad planning and injuries have complicated solutions. A decision at club level to reinforce midfield rather than bring additional striking support coincided with Sesko's absence, extended by a fresh shin injury for which "as yet, there is no end date." A contingency to deploy Bryan Mbeumo as a number nine was abandoned after Amad Diallo suffered an ankle injury just before the opening game at Hull, leaving Matheus Cunha to lead the line; Cunha repeatedly dropped into the space Fernandes occupies and the pair "never really found an effective way of dealing with it," contributing to constraints on Fernandes' positioning and decision-making.
Carrick warned that no player is exempt from selection decisions, saying no-one was "guaranteed" a place in his team, though he framed that while appearing unlikely to omit his captain. He added: "He's a top player, Bruno," and continued, "Sometimes things don't quite go for you. Sometimes you have a spell of that. "But he's done some incredible things for this football club and he will do the same in the future, there's no doubt about that." United must start to improve, and Carrick has been preparing the squad ahead of their meeting with Atletico Madrid.
