Casemiro and Marcus Rashford’s Comments Solidify Manchester United’s Most Crucial Player
As the Manchester United players prepared to make their way up the Wembley steps to collect their runners-up medals, a touching gesture was made for Bruno Fernandes to go first.
Although Harry Maguire is still nominally the club captain, it is evident that the Portuguese is the true leader of the United team.
The changing of the guard is expected to take place this summer. Maguire is likely to quit the club, and Fernandes is widely regarded as the frontrunner to replace him.
Fernandes appeared to be a strange fit in Erik ten Hag’s side a year ago. It is a credit to his dedication and ability that he has remained important and added new elements to his team.
He’s still a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. The 28-year-old takes excessive risks, loses the ball too frequently, and can allow his emotions get the best of him in a game.
That fire in his belly, and his explosive unpredictability, are what make him so dangerous. He is still the driving force behind this United team, but he is now flourishing with fellow football minds who are on the same wavelength.
There is a case to be made that Fernandes has just had his best season in a United shirt. Yes, he has been the standout player in previous campaigns, scoring more goals, but he is now more of a team player than a talisman.
Even if he isn’t delivering the insane numbers he used to, 14 goals and 15 assists for his team across all competitions is a fantastic feat. In each of his last six seasons, he has hit double digits in both measurements.
Rather than being a one-man show, Fernandes is now equally excellent as a support act, and his quiet genius frequently steals the stage. He’s always been the team’s brain, but now he’s also its throbbing heart.
He used to be selfish, but now he is unselfish. This season, he played in his preferred attacking midfield role 27% of the time, but he never complained and was willing to sacrifice himself for the better interest of the team.
“It’s a pleasure to play alongside him,” Casemiro said of his midfield teammate. “He is the engine of the team, the one who helps us the most.”
Marcus Rashford has said similar things. The England forward won the club’s end-of-season accolades with a clean sweep, but he was conflicted between Casemiro and Fernandes for his own player of the season.
“I think I nominated two people,” he said. “I’m not sure I’m allowed to do that [laughs].” Case [Casemiro] and Bruno [Fernandes] received my votes. Case has done an excellent job since his arrival, and he has made us a lot more solid. This allowed players like Bruno and [Christian] Eriksen, who I thought had a fantastic season, to play their football.”
It speaks a lot about Fernandes‘ character and commitment that he is so highly regarded by his peers, and it also underlines United’s progress that he is no longer the sole player on whom they rely.
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