Despite positive improvements for Manchester United in recent weeks, this has yet to be reflected in the results being achieved, as Sunday’s 4-1 thrashing by Newcastle demonstrated.
Ruben Amorim is thought to have been absolutely livid after the game with his team once again letting him down, with several players showing why they are not first choice at Manchester United.
The loss saw United record a 115th defeat since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, beating the 114 suffered under the legendary United manager.
It was also a result that sets United well on course to record a worst ever Premier League finish which stretches back to 1992.
This is no surprise, with United’s form under Amorim and Erik ten Hag this season being atrocious, with no end in sight. The squad at the head coach’s disposal is known to be not good enough, with multiple players now in their final leg as United players.
But there is one who Rio Ferdinand says has a quality the rest do not.
Photo by Michael Driver | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesRio Ferdinand says Bruno Fernandes is the only Manchester United player who is confident
This season, United have had one consistent performer who has been sensational while those around him have been head-scratchingly bad at times, that being the captain Bruno Fernandes.
Now, after the Newcastle game, Ferdinand has pointed out that the entire United team are lacking confidence – apart from Fernandes.
“The confidence is shot. Bruno is the only one going out there with confidence. No one else in that team at the moment, because of the body over the course of this season, walks out onto that pitch. No matter what happens in the first five minutes, if I have a bad touch, I will get through this.
“If anyone else has a bad touch with their first two to three actions in a game, 90 per cent chance they will fold, because confidence is so low.
“They are now in such a bad place.”
Manchester United need more Bruno Fernandes’
It is often admitted that in the past decade, there has only been one undeniable success story within United’s recruitment, and that is Fernandes.
Already a club great, this season, Fernandes has been able to perform despite the awful performances around him, with 16 goals and 18 assists in 48 games.
Fernandes was named the Premier League player of the month for March after his sensational displays and his mentality is something that the club should be looking to find in any potential recruits in the upcoming transfer window.
The on-field mentality of Matheus Cunha, for example, could be an excellent addition, with United needing another player who stands up to be counted even on bad nights at the office – just as Cunha has done for an awful Wolves team.