In the 81st minute of the match against Twente, Bruno Fernandes collapsed in regret after his shot went wide. This is a familiar move of the Portuguese midfielder and has been successful many times. The Man United captain often plays inconsistently for most of the match but can shine with a surprising moment.
However, Bruno could not help his team win against Twente on the opening day of the Europa League. The 30-year-old star's ball sense was not good, he made many inaccurate passes. In addition, his lack of acceleration and dribbling skills made it difficult for Bruno to handle the ball against the opponent's defense. Throughout the match, the former Sporting player could not put the ball in favorable positions for his teammates to finish.
During his four and a half years at Man United, Bruno helped the “Red Devils” win many important victories. However, entering his fifth season at Old Trafford, the midfielder born in 1994 is showing signs of stagnation and needs more support.
Bruno's form has been poor since the start of the 2024-2025 season until the Europa League group stage opener. In the draw with Twente alone, the Portuguese star lost the ball 19 times and completed only 75% of his passes (39/52).
The draw against Twente continued a worrying run of form as United have not won in Europe since a 1-0 win at Copenhagen last October. That was their only win in their last nine games in the Champions League and Europa League.
With the new format of the Europa League, this draw is not a disaster but it is still very disappointing. This is also the fourth consecutive season that Man United have not won their opening match in the European arena. The opponents of the Old Trafford team always know that, as long as they defend tightly and counterattack quickly, they can absolutely find opportunities against Ten Hag's team.
Ten Hag’s side have been more stable with fewer injuries than last season but long-term problems remain. United’s midfield is a puzzle as the Red Devils have struggled to find the best combinations.
In addition, the deadlock of the attack also caused Man United to receive unfavorable results. New signing Joshua Zirkzee scored in his debut match but failed to score in the following matches. In addition, the "Red Devils" wingers often appeared confused when facing teams that defended deep.
"We were very ambitious and when you have ambition you have to show it. Especially in the second half, we were too complacent. Man United couldn't score the winning goal and that's unacceptable," said Erik ten Hag after the draw with Twente.
The issue comes back to Bruno Fernandes, who has helped United win many games but now seems to lack the stamina to do so. His adventurous style of play often causes the Red Devils to lose control of the game. However, the Portuguese midfielder’s ability to create unexpected chances still makes Ten Hag hesitant to substitute him early.
When Bruno signed a new contract in August, many predicted that Man United would gradually become less dependent on him as the team became more stable. However, this season has proven the opposite, the "Red Half" of Manchester needs explosive moments from the captain in every match.
No one can blame Bruno for a slow start to the new season, having played over 20,000 minutes for Man United. However, if the Portuguese star cannot reach his previous form, the responsibility for finding a new solution will fall to Erik ten Hag. Alternatives such as Mount, Eriksen, or even Amad could take on the '10' role. Zirkzee could also be used in this position, with Hojlund up front.
The outcome of Man United’s season will depend on whether the tactical elements are in harmony or not. However, if lower-level opponents such as Twente or Crystal Palace can still cause chaos, it is very likely that the “Red Devils” will face another difficult season.
