Bruno Fernandes has just picked up the biggest individual prize of his Manchester United career, but Patrice Evra isn’t convinced the captain is giving the team everything he could.
Bruno Fernandes was named PFA Player of the Year after another huge campaign. He scored nine goals and produced a record 21 assists, helping United finish third and return to the Champions League. It was also the first time a United player had won the award since Wayne Rooney in 2009/10.
The Portugal international has collected plenty of individual recognition. He was named the FWA Footballer of the Year in May and won United’s Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for the fifth time.
Evra’s criticism, then, isn’t about whether Fernandes is a good player. It is about what he wants from him next.
Evra wants Fernandes to control games
The former United defender believes Bruno Fernandes has become too reliant on his own ability to produce something special.
Bruno Fernandes has often been the player Manchester United turn to when a game needs changing. His goals and assists have regularly made the difference. Evra doesn’t want that to disappear, but he wants another side of the midfielder to become more important.
“Bruno will keep winning all the personal awards, but I want him to make his teammates play better. So yes, Bruno will provide assists, score goals, all of that, but let’s stop being hypocritical. I’m asking all of Man United, does Bruno make the team play better? Does he control the game? No. But does he win you games? Yes,” Patrice Evra said on his Kick Stream.
That is a massive striking assessment of a player who has just been voted the best in the league by his fellow professionals.
Evra’s point is that Fernandes should not only be judged by the numbers. He wants him dictating matches rather than constantly trying to force them open himself.
“That’s more important, but now that he’s won the Player of the Year award, I don’t want to see him win it again. I want Bruno play a part of the team, to be the maestro, to control the game, to dictate the game. I know what I’m talking about.”
Evra clearly rates the United captain, but he simply thinks there is another level to reach.
Evra questions United’s midfield balance
Part of the responsibility, according to Evra, falls on the players around Fernandes.
The Frenchman believes the captain can have more freedom in an advanced role if Manchester United give him a midfielder capable of controlling the tempo behind him.
“If you want Bruno to play as the number 10, then fair enough, but you need a midfielder behind him to control the tempo,” said Evra.
He then pointed towards Kobbie Mainoo as the player he would prefer for that job.
“Someone like Kobbie Mainoo. But that’s not the way we’re playing right now. Bruno, Mainoo and Baleba are our best midfield. Tielemans is too soft, I prefer Mainoo.”
That final comment is likely to attract plenty of debate. United have invested heavily in midfield this summer, with Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba all arriving.
Evra, though, would still build the unit around Mainoo and Baleba, with Fernandes further forward.
For United, there is an obvious question behind all this. If Fernandes is going to continue winning games through goals and assists, should Carrick really ask him to change? Or would giving him more control simply make United even harder to play against?
Fernandes’ numbers from last season were outstanding. Evra isn’t disputing that.
He wants more.
And with the PFA award now safely in Fernandes’ collection, the next challenge is making sure his influence is felt across the whole team rather than just on the scoresheet.
