Bruno Fernandes’ dip in form mirrors Manchester United’s worst league start in 40 years
Fernandes’ numbers fall as United collect six points from six
Just seven weeks after collecting the PFA Player of the Year award for 2025-26 at the Manchester Opera House, Bruno Fernandes is facing questions over his form as Manchester United sit on their worst Premier League start in 40 years.
The United captain had enjoyed a phenomenal 2025-26 season, winning the Premier League and Football Writers’ Player of the Year awards as well. Fernandes scored nine goals and claimed 21 assists, breaking a Premier League record jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne. Over the final 11 games of last season, of the 21 goals United scored, Fernandes either scored or created 12 of them. In the seven-game run that returned United to Europe’s elite competition after a two-year absence, the 31-year-old featured in nine of 12 goals.
“It was a special season for me,” Fernandes said after collecting the 2025-26 PFA Player of the Year trophy in August. “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.”
Stat drop in 2026-27
Fernandes has played every minute of Manchester United’s six Premier League games this season. He has three goals and one assist, all of which came against Ipswich in the second game of the campaign and, so far, his side’s only win. The numbers are actually better than last term’s opening six games, when he scored twice and failed to create any, but the underlying metrics are concerning.
This season is Fernandes’ second highest for actual shots at an average of 3.3 per game, behind his best of 3.5 in 2020-21, but it is his joint-second lowest for shots on target at an average of 0.8. His chance creation is 2.5 per game on average, the second lowest of his Old Trafford career and down significantly on the 4.0 he returned last season.
Even more stark is the big-chance creation. Fernandes has created just one ‘big chance’ so far this season, the lofted pass that sent Bryan Mbeumo running clear of the Ipswich defence on 30 August. Last season his average was one per game.
Symptom or cause?
The dip coincides with United collecting just six points from their opening six games, their worst start to a league campaign in 40 years, when Ron Atkinson was eventually sacked to make way for Sir Alex Ferguson.
Uncertainty over fitness has added to the debate. Fernandes was left out of Portugal’s recent Nations League encounter with Norway after national team boss Jorge Jesus said the former Sporting man was “playing through pain”. He returned for the final two internationals of the extended break and completed 90 minutes in a 4-0 Champions League win against Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK.
United manager Michael Carrick does not view it as a major issue ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with Atletico Madrid.
“He was carrying something but that happens a lot,” Carrick said. “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.”
Missing structure around Fernandes
Towards the end of last season, when Fernandes’ contribution was most prolific, Benjamin Sesko was a regular in the number nine role, while veteran Brazilian Casemiro anchored midfield. Of the nine league goals Sesko has scored in 2026, Fernandes created four, and Fernandes was responsible for setting up four of the final five goals Casemiro scored for United from 1 February onwards.
Casemiro left for Inter Miami in the summer. His positioning and game knowledge allowed Fernandes to take risks on transition, a cover now absent despite United’s low running stats.
Sesko’s fresh shin injury extends a lack of involvement being keenly felt. The club’s power brokers reinforced Carrick’s midfield in the summer rather than adding striking support. A plan to use Mbeumo as a number nine was scrapped when Amad Diallo suffered an ankle injury before the opener at Hull. Matheus Cunha was given the job instead, but he repeatedly dropped deep into the space Fernandes occupies, restricting the captain.
Against Tottenham at the weekend, it took Fernandes an incredible 23 minutes just to complete a pass. Carrick insists no-one is guaranteed a place, but added caveats to indicate leaving out his captain is not in his thinking.
“He’s a top player, Bruno,” Carrick said. “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.”