Man Utd skipper Bruno Fernandes has struggled to produce his best form this season playing in midfield, with his latest comments hinting at an ongoing dissatisfaction
David joined the MEN as Chief Manchester United Writer in September 2025.
Bruno Fernandes speaking(Image: Hayters TV)
On the face of it, Bruno Fernandes could hardly have been more positive when asked about playing in midfield for Manchester United.
“I love playing football, whatever the position,” said Fernandes, ahead of Portugal’s 1-0 World Cup qualifier win over Republic of Ireland. “They can put me at full-back, winger, goalkeeper. I’ll always give my best.”
But it was the follow-up remark from Fernandes that was most telling, suggesting the 31-year-old playmaker was far from happy at playing in a deeper-lying role on the insistence of boss Ruben Amorim.“Everyone has their preferences,” said United captain Fernandes. “But we have to adapt to the coach’s ideas.”
The clear inference from that comment is that Fernandes would rather play in a more advanced role, where he has been most effective for United and can provide a greater attacking threat and influence.
Fernandes and his camp are known to have taken umbrage at recent reports stating he is not happy with the role in which Amorim continues to deploy him and is desperate to play further up the pitch, with more freedom.
United skipper Fernandes is playing in midfield this season and has struggled to produce his best form(Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
What is undeniable is that being selected in midfield does not play to the attacking strengths of Fernandes. He is arguably United’s most creative player and the one with the biggest goal threat, but those weapons are being nullified by where he is currently being played.
In midfield, Fernandes is forced to think defensively as well as offensively, something that does not come naturally to him. It is a different mindset, focusing on thwarting opponents when you don’t have the ball, rather than what you can do with it at your feet, which is where Fernandes excels.
In his new role, Fernandes’ objective is frequently not to unlock the opposition but to keep them under lock and key. That is likely to be the case when United return to Premier League action at arch rivals Liverpool on Sunday, where Fernandes will be tasked with being more of a spoiler than a match-winner, given how the game is likely to unfold, with the hosts enjoying greater possession, forcing Amorim’s side into a policy of containment.
United boss Amorim has continued to deploy skipper Fernandes in a deeper-lying role this season(Image: Getty)
That is not to say Fernandes is completely ill-suited to playing more centrally. His intrinsic work ethic and willingness to cover so much ground, as evidenced by some key challenges in the dying embers of United’s hard-fought 2-1 win over Chelsea, is a key skill set for a midfielder.
But Amorim’s insistence on sticking with his contentious 3-4-2-1 system, with Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Amad or Mason Mount playing as the two behind Benjamin Sesko, means Fernandes has had to accept he is now a midfielder and will play there as long as his compatriot remains in charge.
Publicly, players will rarely complain about the position they are asked to occupy and the role they are required to fulfil. Privately, though, Fernandes surely yearns for the days under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag, when he was able to maraud around the pitch, showcasing his prodigious attacking talent, without having to do any of the dirty work.