Is Man Utd's Fernandes issue a symptom or reason for their form?

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes is yet to reach the highs of last season – is it because of his side's poor start or the reason for it? Bruno Fernandes has scored 111 goals in 335 appearances for Manchester United It is only seven weeks since Bruno Fernandes stood in the Manchester Opera House and spoke of his pride at being named PFA Player of the Year for 2025-26. The Manchester United captain had already won the Premier League and Football Writers' versions, in recognition of the phenomenal contribution to his side's unexpected third-place finish. Fernandes scored nine goals and claimed 21 assists, breaking a Premier League record jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne that had stood for 23 years.

Over the final 11 games of the season, of the 21 goals United scored, Fernandes either found the net himself or created 12 of them. In the seven-game run that swept United back into Europe's elite club competition after a two-year absence, the 31-year-old was a central figure in nine out of 12 goals. Statistically, it was remarkable, reminiscent of Eric Cantona in the 1995-96 title-winning campaign when he scored in six successive games, five of them when United only scored once. "It was a special season for me," Fernandes told an appreciative audience. "I am very