They say absence makes the heart grow stronger. That was certainly the case for the Manchester United supporters watching Erik ten Hag’s side bang their heads against Arsenal’s brick-wall backline without ever breaking through on Sunday afternoon.
The performance may have been a few notches above that capitulation at Crystal Palace six days earlier. But, as the Red Devils suffered a record 14th defeat of a top-flight campaign, another game came and went without Manchester United barely threatening a goal of their own.
And for Rio Ferdinand, a legend of better days at Old Trafford, it is no secret that Ten Hag’s side look as blunt as a butter knife without the man who – once again – ranks top of the charts for chances created in this Premier League season.
He has his critics, Bruno Fernandes. But, missing through injury for the first time in his Man United career, successive defeats against Palace and Arsenal are certainly one in the eye to those who continue to insist that Ten Hag would be better off without his talismanic captain.
Manchester United lose again without Bruno Fernandes
“All of you people who are saying ‘Bruno out’, again, I want humble pie eaten,” the 2008 Champions League winner tells Vibe with Five on YouTube. “Because, in the last couple of games, creativity has been a big issue for us.”
United, who were also without Marcus Rashford as Leandro Trossard’s first-half goal made the difference on Sunday, are now eighth in the table and facing up to their worst-ever top-flight finish. Only three players – Kobbie Mainoo, Scott McTominay and the impressive Amad Diallo – managed more than one ‘key pass’ in that Arsenal defeat, with two apiece.
Compare that to Fernandes’ numbers – he produced nine key passes in that 1-1 draw with Burnley before his injury – and the different is night and day (WhoScored).
“Without that man in our team, we don’t create noise, let alone chances. Trust me,” adds Ferdinand. “All these people who keep saying; ‘Yeah, but he is not this, he is not that’…
“The guy creates chances. He scores goals but, more importantly, he creates chances for others. He makes other players look much better. When he hasn’t played, every other attacking player has looked worse off.”
Injury crisis continues for Erik ten Hag
You know you’re in the midst of an injury crisis when even Manchester United’s Terminator is malfunctioning. Fernandes had never missed a single game in his Red Devils career before that disastrous trip to Selhurst Park.
The sheer extent of injuries suffered by this United side – pretty much every member of Ten Hag’s squad having spells out of the team this season – surely means we have gone well beyond the realms of ‘bad luck’, with this one of many problems Ineos must address during what is shaping up to be a colossal first summer in charge for the club’s new decision makers.
Fernandes will at least, be back for the FA Cup final, with a midweek return vs Newcastle not out of the question.
“In the last moment Bruno Fernandes could not make it, so we brought Amad into the team. The last days Bruno trained, but he didn’t make it yesterday. (He) was not far enough to recover from his injury,” Ten Hag toldSky Sports.
“The last days we trained with Rashy. Bruno trained for two days, but he was not far enough to recover from his injuries.”
