Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has made a “bizarre excuse” for one player, although most fans seem to agree with him.
Despite spending over £200 million in the summer transfer window, Manchester United are struggling at the start of this season. Rúben Amorim has already watched over several shocking performances before the end of September.
While Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo need to be given time to adapt to a new system, they have been among United’s best performers. Even Benjamin Šeško has looked more exciting than some talented United players, despite the pressure on him at his young age.
Those who have been at the club since the beginning of Amorim’s reign have no excuse for their poor performances this season. If anything, this should be the time that United look to push up the Premier League, but that now seems highly unlikely.
The squad is more than capable of picking up results against some of the best sides in the division, but they regularly fail to perform against some of the worst teams they come up against. It is simply baffling.
Hargreaves’ excuse for Fernandes after Brentford performance
Bruno Fernandes again started as a defensive midfielder in the loss against Brentford, in a much deeper role than what he is used to from previous managers. Speaking to Premier League Productions, it is clear that Owen Hargreaves doesn’t agree with Amorim on Fernandes’ position
“If the goalkeeper just waits as Kelleher does it puts pressure on Bruno under pressure and he ends up just passing it,” said Hargreaves when asked about the captain’s penalty miss.
“You just wonder for Bruno, is that because he is playing in that deeper midfield position? He’s not getting as many touches in the area where he can affect the game.
“Defensively, they [United] have actually been pretty good up to this point, but today they weren’t. The midfield is still an issue, Bruno has got to be a 10 again, he’s the best creator, he has got to be a 10 again. Sesko scored which was the only positive for United today.”
Most United fans agree that Fernandes plays his best football as an attacking midfielder, but Hargreaves’ thoughts on the captain’s position were branded as a “bizarre excuse” by Metro.
Transfer business has created an unsolvable Fernandes problem
In Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation, Fernandes belongs in the left-sided attacking midfield role, where Matheus Cunha has been deployed since he joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
While he could also be effective from the right No.10 position, Bryan Mbeumo will continue to play there until an injury or suspension prevents him from doing so, leaving Fernandes no natural role in the side.
Read More: Manchester United handed opportunity to make crucial signing in January after poor start
If Amorim wants to solve the Fernandes problem and return him to his natural position, he must drop one of his new £60 million-plus signings. It seems Jason Wilcox has signed players without thinking of the talent already at Old Trafford.
Fernandes will never become completely comfortable as a defensive midfielder, so United have created an unsolvable problem for themselves. It is simply baffling.
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