Manchester United’s Player Of The Year Is Bruno Fernandes

On the finish of final season Manchester United have been spoilt for selection when he got here to anointing their participant of the yr.

In the long run, it was Marcus Rashford who earned the title and the membership’s Sir Matt Busby Participant of the 12 months award, after scoring a career-high 30 objectives to assist United end third within the Premier League and win the Carabao Cup.

Rashford confronted robust competitors from a number of different gamers, together with two new signings, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro, who bolstered United with their calm and composed presence in defence and midfield, in addition to Luke Shaw, who loved a one other good season at left-back.

In distinction a yr later, as we method the tip of this season, the shortlist of candidates to succeed Rashford is trying alarming small.

For a number of months the consensus was Diogo Dalot had been United’s finest participant, and although the Portuguese worldwide has been in distinctive type, cementing his place within the facet with a succession of spectacular performances, it could even be emblematic of this struggling facet if the award was to be received by a right-back.

However in latest weeks Dalot’s claims have been overtaken by his worldwide team-mate Bruno Fernandes, who has scored seven objectives in his final six Premier League video games, and confirmed himself to be United’s most influential participant this season.

Amid a disappointing season, which has seen United fall out of the Champions League on the group stage, and throw away their likelihood to return to the competitors subsequent season by sliding down the desk, the place they’re prone to end sixth or seventh, Fernandes has been a beacon, offering management, assists and objectives.

The playmaker may spilt opinion, and infrequently attracts the ire of opposition followers, however it’s apparent he has stopped United enduring a fair worse season, and made it doable that they might even end with a trophy.

It’s tough to think about this United facet with out Fernandes, partly as a result of he has an unimaginable file and performs in just about each sport, however primarily as a result of he at all times provides one thing; a spark of genius, a defence-splitting move or a vital aim.

After scoring two objectives in United’s 4-2 victory over Sheffield United on Wednesday, Fernandes change into the membership’s main scorer with a complete of 15 objectives this season.

These have included a match-winning penalty towards Nottingham Forest, a perfectly struck volley to defeat Burnley, a dramatic final minute winner towards Fulham, a strike from close to the midway line towards Liverpool, and a vital aim towards Coventry Metropolis within the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley final weekend.

Fernandes additionally has a wholesome quantity of assists, 11 in all competitions, to present him a complete of 26 aim contributions this season, which is bigger than Martin Odegaard (20), Kevin De Bruyne (19), Bernardo Silva (16) and James Maddison (11).

And in distinction to all his rivals Fernandes has performed it in a struggling facet on track for presumably their worst ever Premier League season.

Fernandes will not be with out his faults; he will be rash, and petulant, and infrequently tries to do an excessive amount of, and be all over the place on the pitch, however there’s a cause the United supervisor Erik ten Hag made him his captain this season.

He stays a frontrunner on the pitch, who doesn’t shirk duty and refuses to surrender, consistently imploring his team-mates to maintain getting into video games.

“He confirmed his management on this sport, but additionally together with his vitality, his transition each methods is essential and he at all times tries to encourage the crew,” Ten Hag stated this week after the win over Sheffield United. “He’s doing very effectively and we’re very happy together with his performances and his angle.”

On Wednesday evening at Outdated Trafford, Fernandes confirmed these management abilities when he pulled apart United’s 18-year-old striker Ethan Wheatley, who was making his first crew debut in its place, and stated, “I’ve bought 9 minutes to get you a aim.” Alas, it didn’t occur, nevertheless it confirmed how Fernandes could be a selfless participant and need the very best for the crew.

It’s simply one of many many the reason why Fernandes deserves to be United’s Participant of the 12 months for the third time since he arrived at Outdated Trafford in 2020.