Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick has finally found Bruno Fernandes his best position in the starting 11
Ralf Rangnick, Bruno Fernandes and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer
Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick has finally hinted what he thinks is the best position for Bruno Fernandes in the starting 11. The German manager spoke to the press after the Red Devils’ convincing 3-1 win over Brentford in the Premier League.
Bruno Fernandes was one of the standouts in the 3-1 win over the newly promoted team Brentford. The Portuguese international bagged 2 assists after setting up Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford for aboslute sitters against the Bees.
Fernandes has now got 2 goals and 2 assists in his last 2 games and is back to his best after a recent change in formation by Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick. The 26 year old is now playing as a number 8 in the new 4-3-3 formation used by the German manager and that has helped Fernandes a lot as he has enough room to create chances for his teammates from deep and dictate the game’s tempo.
Bruno Fernandes used to play as number 8 when he was in Sporting Lisbon and was regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world. But since his move to the Red Devils, ex United manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer chose to play the Portuguese as a sole number 10 with freedom to roam. This certainly helped Fernandes as he bagged 28 goals and 18 assists last season.
However, the 26 year old had failed to live up to last season’s expectations playing as a number 10 in the early parts of this season and current manager Rangnick has now chosen to play Fernandes as a number 8 alongside Fred. Recent upturn in form has certainly helped him and the formation is certainly working out for the 26 year old.
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Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick on Bruno Fernandes playing as number 8:
Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick was asked about Bruno Fernandes’ new position and how well does the German think Fernandes will perform as number 8. While answering to those questions, the German manager looked convinced and confident that Fernandes would thrive in the new formation.
Ralf Rangnick said,” I think most of the top teams in Europe and also in England play in a 4-3-3. I think for him, it’s better than being pinned to a no.10 position because he can then make himself available in different areas of the pitch, not only in the centre.”
Rangnick added,” For me, he is not a wing player, but I think in this position, he can find the spaces himself, he can sniff the moments in which areas we have to play the ball for him, and this position as an eight is almost perfect for him.”
“He is not a number 10, he is a midfielder but he has developed that ability to break the line of the defence to score goals. He shoots, he assists, the passes and the free-kicks. But he is not a 10, he is an eight. He is a box-to-box player who understands very well in the game. He doesn’t just play. He understands everything that happens around him,” added the German manager.
Bruno Fernandes himself has always said his preferred position is as a number 8 and that has also been proved with a tattoo of number 8 on his hand. Fernandes can finally help Manchester United get back to winning ways after a surge of good form and he will hope this will help his team gain confidence too.
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Aaryan Choksi
(100 Articles Published)