Manchester United supporters are accustomed to watching Bruno Fernandes strut his stuff at Old Trafford. Since his move from Sporting CP two-and-a-half years ago, he's showcased his skill set in England's top-flight on a regular basis.
The Portuguese international has been an all-action no.10 throughout his stay in Manchester. He clearly loves the attacking side of the game, from scoring goals to generating assists and everything in between.
Fernandes has scored 36 goals in the Premier League while registering a further 25 assists. He is a player who takes risks on the ball but sometimes he can go too far.
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The 27-year-old is very much an advocate of the 'Hollywood pass'. When no offensive opening appears to be present, he's proved to be more than willing to attempt to do the impossible.
His desire to take risks can help the team at times. Fernandes is capable of almost winning games on his own by scoring from long range or completing an incisive pass, but it can also be equally problematic. He's almost too eager to lose possession in certain moments. On average, he tends to complete roughly 74% of his passes in the Premier League, which captures his tendency to lose the ball.
On Monday night, Fernandes was deployed alongside Juan Mata against Brentford, who Ralf Rangnick decided to use as his team's no.10 in what was likely to be his final Old Trafford appearance. Now 34 years old, the Spanish playmaker is expected to leave the club this summer.
He won't be a part of Erik ten Hag's future United side, yet his performance against the Bees did offer an insight into what Fernandes could improve further down the line. Mata wasn't especially spectacular in a match-winning sense. He didn't score or assist, he attempted just one shot and he failed to even tee up a shot for one of his teammates.
However, despite his lack of meaningful product, Mata was praised on the back of his display. He operated as a different sort of no.10 to Bruno. Rather than persistently attempting 'Hollywood passes', he instead opted to keep things ticking over. The ex-Chelsea creator was always available for a pass, linked with others in tight spaces and almost performed as a connector of sorts. With him as a fulcrum in the team, United were able to sustain attacks to a higher level than normal.
In fact, Rangnick's men made over 400 passes in the first half of a Premier League game for the first time this season. He misplaced just six passes out of 62 and showed the underlying value attached to ball retention. Fernandes is a natural when it comes to opening up defences. He should never lose such an important quality but by simply adopting elements of Mata's decision-making, he could become even better.
Ten Hag will demand a lot from his players in the summer. Fernandes is almost certain to be central to his plans but as part of his possession-based system, greater care of the ball will be required. He can still attempt to play the killer pass but only when the time is right.
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