Bruno Fernandes the catalyst as Manchester United hit top gear again

Portuguese star is finding his form for Old Trafford giants as they once more challenge at the top

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates with Marcus Rashford after scoring in the 2-1 win against Crystal Palace on February 4, 2023. Getty

Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring United's second goal. Getty

Marcus Rashford scores United's second goal. Reuters

Referee Andre Marriner shows a red card to Manchester United's Casemiro. AP

United's Casemiro walks off after being shown a red card. PA

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal. AP

Erik ten Hag, manager of Manchester United, applauds fans during the game. Getty

Fernandes scores United's first goal from the penalty spot. Reuters

Jeffrey Schlupp of Crystal Palace is challenged by Fred. Getty

Jeffrey Schlupp celebrates after scoring for Palace. AP

Marcus Rashford’s transformation, finding a rightful heir to Roy Keane’s midfield throne in Casemiro, and having a fit Raphael Varane at the heart of the defence are three of the most common reasons Manchester United supporters feel they have turned the corner.

But, as has been the case since he walked through the door three years ago, United’s fine form can also largely be attributed to one, key catalyst for change – when Bruno Fernandes hits top gear, so do the Old Trafford giants.

Fernandes carried United for much of his early career in English football. Hitting the ground running after joining three years ago, the 28-year-old inspired Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team to a second-placed finish in his first full campaign in Manchester in 2020-21.

His second season promised so much, with compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival, only for United to slump to a Premier League record low points total, leaving supporters wondering if Fernandes had lost his Midas touch.

With Ronaldo out of the way, and a sufficient calibre of teammate to lend a hand, Fernandes is relishing being the player United turn to in their hour of need again, beating his chest to the rhythm of their renaissance.

The lack of universal eulogy does not tell a true representation of just what Fernandes has been doing this season. He is very much in the form of his life, it is just this time around, he isn’t having to do it on his own.

“If we’re talking about statistics, in my first year it was amazing,” Fernandes said last week.

“Probably now, I’m not getting as many goals and assists but I’m playing much better and I am more involved in the game than I was before.”

While the Portuguese no longer tops the United scoring charts for the season, he is still playing a key role and has registered goals or assists in each of his last six Premier League games, the first time he has done so in his Old Trafford career.

United 2 Palace 1: Player ratings

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea 7 - Got down to save well and push the ball away from Schlupp. Called to action when United went down to ten, but couldn’t stop the goal. Getty

Aaron Wan-Bissaka 7 - Attacked well with Antony in front, though his final ball could have been sharper. Involved in build up to second. Handled the pressure well when Casemiro red carded. Subbed as Ten Hag reorganised to make up for the departure. AP

Raphael Varane 8 - Smooth operator. Retired from international football yesterday, beaten by Schlupp today, but that was the only time a Palace player bested him. PA

Lisandro Martinez 8 - Tidy last-ditch challenge on Edouard. Important tackles – which he made because he read forward passes well to get in the right position. Became even more important in the last ten minutes. Man of the match. PA

Luke Shaw 7 - Uneventful first half, eventful second. Quickly put the ball in for Rashford for the second. Got in the way as Palace pushed for their second. Stood strong on Olise after 81 minutes too. EPA

Fred 7 - Side-footed wide of the post on 36. Became more important after compatriot Casemiro was sent off. Roared into a 93rd minute challenge as the ten men worked hard to keep their lead. Encouraging. AP

Casemiro 5 - Applauded for his first half trickery, less so when he was sent off for a straight red card on 71 after he grabbed the neck of Hughes with both hands. Shouldn’t have been involved. With Eriksen injured, he’ll be missed. At least he’ll be rested when he comes back. Getty

Antony 6 - His bursts of pace caused Palace problems and he combined well with Wan Bissaka. Fast, but matched for pace by Guehi. His reaction to a foul changed the game. His teammates were furious after that Schlupp challenge – which Antony was also booked for. And Casemiro was then sent off. AFP

Bruno Fernandes 7 - A hop, skip and he stroked a 6th minute penalty in – he’d missed his previous two. Involved in the second goal, made more key passes than anyone else as he got around the pitch. Palace goal went over his head. Getty

Marcus Rashford 8 - Seven shots. His cross led to the penalty. A danger on the left but also made central runs. Dipped a volley just over on 30, shot over on 55, then scored the second, alert as he guided the cross by Guaita. A difficult finish. Getty

Wout Weghorst 6 - Dangerous 13th minute header almost looped in. Central striker, but he moved wide, then picked up Fred after 35. Quiet thereafter and brought off after 59. EPA

SUBS: Alejandro Garnacho (Weghorst 59') 6. Lost his footing and appealed for a foul. Ball to Shaw to set up the second. Then he was substituted himself after 86. AFP

Marcel Sabitzer (Antony 80') N/A. On for his United debut. He’ll get his chance now with all those midfield absences. PA

Harry Maguire (Garnacho 86') N/A. On at the end as United needed to defend. Getty

Victor Lindelof (Wan Bissaka 86') N/A. United had four central defenders on the pitch as the match finished. Reuters

CRYSTAL PALACE RATINGS: Vicente Guaita 7 – The Palace stopper was outfoxed for the early penalty, but a series of impressive first-half stops kept the away side in the game. Possibly could have done more to stop Marcus Rashford’s goal. EPA

Nathaniel Clyne 5 – The former Liverpool man hardly ventured forward and was generally pinned back by the impressive Rashford. A tough day at the office. AP

Chris Richards 5 – Struggled throughout, most notably for United’s second goal when the American defender failed to pick up Rashford inside the six-yard box. PA

Marc Guehi 6 – Sloppy for the most part, lacking positional discipline. Much like Richards, he was also guilty of not marking attackers tightly enough. The defender did force a good save from David de Gea late on. AFP

Tyrick Mitchell 7 – Palace’s best defender, barely putting a foot wrong in challenging circumstances. He also blunted the talented Antony for the most part. AFP

Will Hughes 5 – Gave away a needless penalty early on for handball, which was duly dispatched by Bruno Fernandes. A costly mistake. EPA

Cheick Doucoure 7 – Industrious out of possession, playing a vital role in Palace’s late push for an equaliser. Grabbed the assist for Schlupp’s late strike. Getty

Jeffrey Schlupp 7 – Very lively in the second half, whipping several threatening crosses into the United penalty box. Excellently flicked home Palace’s consolation goal to revive hopes for the visitors. Getty

Jordan Ayew 6 – A key outlet for Patrick Vieira’s side, driving forward on a handful of occasions with real intent. However, his end product – as is often the case with the winger – left much to be desired. Getty

Michael Olise 6 – Not as influential as the in-form midfielder can be, although he grew into the game after Casemiro’s second-half red card. He curled in the corner which ultimately led to Schlupp’s goal. Getty

Odsonne Edouard 5 – Generally ineffective in possession, as the forward was unable to bring his talented teammates into the game in the first half. His shooting was also erratic, to say the least. Getty

SUBS: Albert Sambi Lokonga (Hughes 72') N/A – Performed much better than the Englishman out of possession. PA

Eberechi Eze (Ayew 73') N/A – Added real energy and intent after coming on with 20 minutes to go. PA

Jean-Philippe Mateta (Schlupp 83') N/A – Helped carve out several decent openings in the final moments of the game, including a neat cut-back from wide. Wasted a good headed chance in added time; Naouirou Ahamada (Doucoure 83') N/A. AP

Many of these telling contributions have come when positioned on the right of the three behind United’s main striker. Such a move from Erik ten Hag raised eyebrow among United fans, taking Fernandes out of his potent, central playmaker role.

Yet, as has been the case with much of what Ten Hag has instilled, the move has been a masterstroke, putting a player with an array of passing you cannot teach into a highly sought-after commodity in Premier League football – space.

“If he does play off the right he is not a wide right player because he’s not got the pace, but he will come in and play in pockets, because what he does have, like all brilliant players, is football intelligence,” former United captain Keane said last week.

“He knows where the space is and if you do get it to him he will hurt you if you drop off. He is a huge player for United.”

With other stars starting to pick up injuries at a crucial juncture for United, Fernandes could find himself once again having to carry the side on his shoulders.

A double-header against Leeds United comes next – a side Fernandes relishes facing, scoring six goals in his last four clashes with the Yorkshire side.

The only difference this season is that, with Manchester City hardly hitting top gear, Fernandes’ exploits could see United become Arsenal’s biggest threat to their pursuit of a long-awaited title.