A Season for the History Books

As they headed into the winter, Manchester United hit the same wall they seem to hit every year. With Ruben Amorim essentially crashing his tenure on his own, United appeared to be on the path towards another embarrassing season.

Instead, the team pulled together, finding stability through one of the most impressive seasons by one player in the Prem in recent memory.

Since arriving in Manchester, Bruno Fernandes has played incredibly well on terrible United sides. Every new manager put the Portuguese at the center of his project, but none found the correct combinations around him.

While the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham experienced varying levels of disappointment this season, United went the other way. Amorim’s time in Manchester fell apart early on, as transfers struggled and bad results compounded. By essentially begging for a way out and being granted it, the former Sporting Lisbon manager saved United.

With caretaker manager Michael Carrick, the club kept an average level of play, taking advantage of their rivals’ collapses. Solidly in the hunt for a Champions League spot, Fernandes’ incredible season propelled the side forward.

While his role hasn’t notably changed, Carrick’s calm allowed him to reach new levels.

Back in December, United and Tottenham seemed on a similar path toward a narrow relegation battle. The Red Devils, powered by the best player in the league, stand on the verge of Europe, while Spurs find themselves in the relegation zone.

In just over a season, Amorim went from United’s potential savior to another victim of the club’s dysfunction. While it may prove to be fool’s gold, his sacking pushed the team down the right path.

At the turn of the new year, United languished around the midtable with no real hope for a European push. Their rivals, primarily Chelsea and Liverpool in this case, underwhelmed as well, but were solidly ahead of them. When Amorim eventually received the boot, the Red Devils entered another rebuilding period.

Learning, hopefully, from the disaster that was the aftermath of the ten Hag firing, the club gave interim manager Michael Carrick a chance. After not even giving Ruud van Nistelrooy a chance despite his impressive start, United seems willing to take their time choosing who’s next. Carrick, to his credit, steadied the ship in the middle of a storm.

One of the key factors behind United’s climb up the table is the teams that stood above them in the winter. Almost all the heavy hitters, outside Arsenal, City, and Villa, experienced a collapse in one way or another.

With the club playing above average and players returning from injury, United have a real shot at finishing third. Carrick’s system is nothing too crazy, like the styles promised by previous managers, but it offers stability. This, in turn, allows players to play with less stress, delivering better and better results.

Two things can be true at the same time: Carrick, thus far, impressed in his audition as United manager, but the club should take its time with its search. Getting the club back to Europe should make Carrick one of the top candidates. However, making the correct decision on their next manager will decide whether this club stays in their banter era or moves on.

Instead of spiraling towards the cellar of the Prem, Carrick’s United found a way to guarantee themselves Champions League football next season.

Similar to Ole Gunnar Solskjær, sometimes stability means more to a club than a unique style of play.

At the center of United’s rise towards a European spot is Fernandes. The mercurial talent currently seems ready to take the mantle of the league’s best player.

Threatening to break the 20 assist mark this season, United’s captain deserves to win the league’s best player. For as good and important as both Erling Haaland and Gabriel are to their sides, neither team revolves around them like Fernandes. Should Arsenal or City lose their best player, both sides may find a way to survive, but without Fernandes, United would be relegated.

In terms of pure statistical output, this season may end up being the Portuguese’s best. While he scored more in previous seasons, his playmaking is reaching new levels this season. With less than a month left in the season, Fernandes still possesses a good chance at breaking the single-season assist record.

Additionally, what makes this feat so impressive is the lack of a singular target for Fernandes. Unlike Kevin de Bruyne, who knew that Sergio Agüero would latch onto his passes, the Portuguese lacks that.

Not only is he the league’s best assist man, but his statistical profile shows that he may be the best playmaker currently. No other rival even touches him in terms of his passing output and accuracy. At the number ten position, Fernandes rules all. 

His story, teetering on the edge of history, deserves more recognition, as United seems to have gone under the radar this season. Just as the club continues to be ignored by many, so has the incredible feat of the Portuguese. Despite playing at a high level for multiple seasons now, this feels like the chance for him to put his name among the league’s greatest.

As the number ten slowly returns to the game, Fernandes remains the best in the position.

Rather than shifting out wide or dropping deeper, the Portuguese became the league’s best player in the position.

Instead of cratering as many expected, United bounced back from the Amorim debacle quite well, with Europe on the horizon. While Carrick deserves credit for helping bring stability to the side, Fernandes is the main reason for this turnaround.

Now on the verge of breaking history, the Portuguese stands ready to be recognized as one of the league’s greatest midfielders.