October 9th 2024.
It's been a tough start to the season for Manchester United, and their captain Bruno Fernandes is feeling the pressure. Despite his talent and hard work, he has yet to score a single goal in 11 appearances. To make matters worse, he's also been sent off in two of his last three games, though one of those red cards was later rescinded.
Louis Saha, a former United player, believes that Fernandes' struggles may be due to the midfield pairing of Christian Eriksen and Kobbie Mainoo. Saha fears that these two players, while skilled on the ball, may not have the physical ability to properly support Fernandes. He also thinks that their positioning on the field may not be helping the team's attack.
Mainoo, who is only 19 years old, has been a consistent presence in the midfield. However, United's manager Erik ten Hag has been rotating players to partner with Mainoo, including Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte. Saha notes that Casemiro started the first three Premier League games but has since been relegated to the bench, while Ugarte struggled in his first league start and was also benched for the next game.
As for Eriksen, he has started in three of the last four league matches, but Saha believes that his partnership with Mainoo may not be the best fit. He thinks that the two may not have the necessary speed and agility to keep up with the strikers, and their positioning on the field may not be conducive to creating scoring opportunities.
Saha also acknowledges that Fernandes' lack of goals could be due to a bit of bad luck. After all, he has hit the crossbar and has been denied by some impressive saves. But he also believes that United's tactics and the lack of support from his teammates may be playing a role in Fernandes' struggles.
As Saha puts it, "When the talent doesn't talk, you'll find him struggling." He believes that when Fernandes' natural abilities are not enough, he needs his teammates to step up and support him. But in United's case, their midfield may be lacking the necessary energy and positioning to properly link up with Fernandes.
Overall, Saha sees room for improvement in United's midfield and hopes that the team can find a better balance to help Fernandes get back on the scoresheet. As a former player himself, he understands the importance of having a strong and cohesive team, and he hopes to see United turn things around soon.
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