Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has recorded the most assists made by any Reds player in a single season.
Michael Carrick provides instructions to Bruno Fernandes during Manchester United’s victory over Manchester City(Image: Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has revealed Michael Carrick has instructed him to find pockets of space around the box since returning to the club as interim head coach. Fernandes has enjoyed a brilliant season, overtaking David Beckham (15) to record the most assists by a United player in a single Premier League campaign.
Fernandes has 19 assists in the Premier League this season and needs just one more to tie with Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry for the most by any player in a top flight season. The 31-year-old’s latest came on Monday night as he set up Benjamin Sesko for United’s second against Brentford.
That was his 11th since Carrick returned and moved Fernandes back into the attacking midfield position. In an interview with Opta, Fernandes revealed the instructions the interim boss has given him since coming to the club. “I float a lot in that zone there now with Michael [Carrick],” he said.
Click here to find out the latest Manchester United news in our daily newsletter
“He doesn’t want me to just be stuck in the middle, so often asks me to find that pocket [of space].” Fernandes continued: “It’s about space. Over the years, teams know you better, so they don’t want to allow you as much space as they probably would have allowed me when I first came to the club because they didn’t know me as much.”
United’s set-piece record has been strong this season. Fernandes has provided ten assists from set pieces in the Premier League, the second highest ever in the top flight – second only to Steven Gerrard (11).
The captain believes picking up assists from corners and free kicks is now more difficult than it used to be. “When we talk about set-pieces and needing to hit the ball in the right space, it’s sometimes harder than a standard pass,” he said.
“The way corners and free-kicks have been, my teammates ask me and demand where they want the ball. Sometimes I’m going to get it right, sometimes not so much.
“I will tell you that five years ago, I would go to take a corner and just put the ball into the middle of the box and let’s see if someone gets it. And nowadays I have to hit a spot, so sometimes it’s even harder to get an assist from a set-piece than it actually is in open play.”
