Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is facing a series of problems. He has no reliable goalkeeper, the £200 million attack has been lackluster, and consecutive missed penalties have turned into nightmares.
However, the paradox and biggest problem for Amorim was the name Bruno Fernandes - the captain and also the brightest star of the team.
After the shock of being eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Grimsby Town with Man United's biggest defeat in this arena, finding the best Fernandes version seems to be just a secondary problem. However, it could be the root of all the troubles that are threatening Amorim's seat.
Fernandes was once the guardian legend of the "Red Devils". In the disastrous 2024-2025 season, the 30-year-old midfielder still managed to leave his mark with 19 goals and 19 assists. Without him, Man United would have faced the prospect of falling to the Championship.
However, the paradox lies in the fact that even though he was the best player, Man United played poorly with Fernandes in the squad. That raises doubts about whether he will fit Amorim's 3-4-3.
Amorim is steadfast in his 3-4-3 system at Old Trafford - the formation that helped him win two national championships with Sporting CP. The only small change came when he switched to 3-4-2-1, but no matter who he was against, Amorim's philosophy always revolved around three centre-backs, two wingers and a pair of central midfielders.
In this system, Fernandes has been experimented with many roles: striker, attacking midfielder behind the center, or playing as a central midfielder with Casemiro or Manuel Ugarte. Last week, Amorim confirmed that Kobbie Mainoo was directly competing with Fernandes for a starting position in midfield. That means the pair are unlikely to feature together in midfield.
The problem was that Fernandes lacked tactical discipline to take on a defensive role, while his creativity forced him to play higher. According to expert Stewart Robson, Amorim's 3-4-3 system is simply not suitable to fully enhance the Portuguese midfielder's qualities.
"The 3-4-3 formation covers all positions on the pitch. But to operate smoothly, you need the right players. The right wingers are really agile, while the two central midfielders must be active, capable of overwhelming the midfield. Man United currently do not have any of those qualities.
Bruno Fernandes simply does not fit into this system. It is reminiscent of Christian Eriksen's final years at Tottenham under Mauricio Pochettino, when the Argentine coach struggled to find a suitable position for him.
Fernandes is in a similar situation. He was tested in the left midfield and attack positions, but could not play effectively in the central midfield role. To take advantage of such a player, you need a team with energy and fitness, which Man United are lacking" - Stewart Robson commented.
In the Portuguese shirt, Fernandes shined again when playing in Roberto Martinez's 4-2-3-1 formation. He was deployed in midfield, right behind the striker, with defensive support from two midfielders behind.
However, even without a natural role in Amorim's system, Fernandes ended last season with 38 goals for Man United. This is a testament to his outstanding influence and individual class.
Instead of blaming Fernandes, the question is: Is the real problem with his teammates in midfield?
Casemiro, Ugarte and Mainoo are often placed alongside Fernandes in the central midfield role, but all three lack speed and mobility. Ugarte also has limitations in ball distribution, making Man United's playing style even more deadlocked.
Fernandes' strengths lie in his creativity and attacking instinct. However, when having to play alongside slow partners, each of his breakthroughs has the potential to expose the gap. The reason was that at that time, there was only one captain in the midfield.
