Gary Neville blames Erik ten Hag for using Bruno Fernandes in the wrong way

Bruno Fernandes, in Gary Neville’s opinion, is not made to play with discipline at Manchester United.

Since joining in January 2020, Fernandes has been United’s best player by far. The Portuguese midfielder frequently provides significant goals and assists and inspires Man United in difficult situations.

While declaring his admiration for the Portugal international, Neville criticised the player for his failure to maintain position during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

Former United defender Neville stated on Sky Bet’s Stick to Football podcast that the player should concentrate on his energy rather than straying across the field.

He said: “Any team that is anything at all, you see repeated pass patterns and combinations. I think about Bruno Fernandes, and I watched him on Sunday, he’s obviously the best player in terms of talent – but he’s everywhere. He must be being told to go and do what he wants.

“I don’t think Bruno Fernandes is that type of guy. If, for Pep Guardiola, a player plays out of position for a minute or two, he’s on the sideline saying, ‘Get back into your position’, and I think Ten Hag is giving him the freedom to go everywhere, and actually that means you can never have a combination or a pattern – when you’ve got your main midfield player everywhere on the pitch.

“It’s almost like 20 years ago, where your number 10 was given licence to play. That’s gone now, you have to fit within a combination and pattern system and attacking shape, and that’s the bit that I think Bruno is told he must be able to go everywhere. I never see Ten Hag going up to him and telling him to get back into position.”

Man United twice conceded the lead against Tottenham at Old Trafford and in a match they should have won, they ended up drawing it 2-2.

Pressure is mounting on manager Erik ten Hag to turnaround the season with more scrutiny under new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe now.