There’s been little to be positive about in the Manchester United camp this week as the fallout from Sunday’s embarrassing 5-0 loss at home to Liverpool continues to linger.
The defeat meant United have suffered five losses in their last nine games across all competitions and have lost three of their last four in the league.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who will remain in charge of the club at least until the Tottenham game this weekend, was brutally honest in his assessment of his side’s performance after full-time.
"It's not easy to say something apart from it's the darkest day I've had leading these players and we weren't good enough, as a team or individually”.
There’s little doubt that from an individual perspective, a number of key United stars have looked way below the levels we’ve come to expect from them in recent weeks.
Luke Shaw has looked a shadow of the marauding left-back he was last season, the usually formidable Harry Maguire has seemed fragile and vulnerable, whilst £73million-man Jadon Sancho can’t even secure a regular place in the starting 11.
Yet despite the team’s struggles as a collective, one player that continues to perform at an elite level, even if it’s drifted under the radar for most observers in the midst of United’s shoddy recent form, is Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese playmaker boasts four goals and further four assists across all competitions so far this season, and in terms of creative threat, no Premier League player can better him.
So far this season, no player has made more open play passes leading to a shot on goal than Fernandes’ total of 40.
Whilst as the above highlights, in terms of shot-creating actions per 90 - this being involved in one of the final two offensive actions that lead directly to a shot, such as a pass, dribble or drawing a foul - Fernandes ranks joint-top, alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold.
In the midst of United’s current crises, his impressive performances in this department have largely drifted under the radar, understandably so.
Yet there should be comfort for United fans in knowing that one of their most influential players continues to produce at a league-best level.
Once the environment around him calms, whether that be a result of an upturn in results, or with a change of coaching structure, we’re sure to see the Portuguese attacker once again reaping the rewards and plaudits for his displays.
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