Man Utd Legend Bryan Robson Urges Bruno Fernandes to Stop “Rolling Over”
Manchester United icon Bryan Robson has publicly advised Bruno Fernandes, the club’s current captain, to eliminate a specific habit from his gameplay. Robson believes this particular action is negatively impacting the team.
Bruno Fernandes, a key midfielder for Manchester United, joined the club in January 2020 from Sporting Clube de Portugal. The transfer fee was reportedly around £67.6 million. Since his arrival, Fernandes has become a beloved figure among the fans and a crucial component of the Manchester United squad.
His contributions to the team are evident in his impressive statistics. Fernandes has scored a total of 95 goals in 277 appearances across all competitions for the Red Devils. In the ongoing 2024/25 season, he has maintained his prolific form, registering 16 goals and 15 assists in 44 matches.
Despite these impressive numbers and consistent performances, Bryan Robson, a legendary figure in Manchester United’s history, has identified an area for improvement in Fernandes’ game. Robson suggests that Fernandes should stop “rolling over” or going to ground too easily when challenged by opponents during matches.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, via BetSelect, Robson elaborated on his point:
- Reduce “Rolling Over”: Robson stated, “I hope that he stays away from the rolling over when he gets tackled and that sort of thing.” He believes this aspect detracts from Fernandes’ overall influence and potentially frustrates teammates.
- Emerging Leadership: However, Robson also praised Fernandes’ development as a captain: “But he’s coming into his own as a captain.”
- Manager’s Instructions: Robson implies that manager Erik ten Hag has instructed Fernandes to take on a leadership role: “I think the manager has told him you’ve got to be a leader on the pitch.”
- On-Pitch Communication: Robson highlighted Fernandes’ increased communication and tactical direction during games: “You can see him talking to people now, saying, ‘This is what we’re doing because this is what the manager wants’. He looks as if he’s encouraging the players and saying, ‘You should be in this position or that position’.”
- Continued Leadership Essential: Robson concluded by emphasizing the importance of Fernandes’ continued leadership: “I hope he keeps continuing to do that because you’ve got to.”
Robson further emphasized the wider role of a captain in maximizing team performance and ensuring tactical adherence. He believes Fernandes is demonstrating these qualities as a Manchester United captain to a certain extent.
However, Robson acknowledged the team’s overall performance needs improvement for Manchester United to achieve its trophy ambitions. He noted that despite Fernandes’ individual brilliance and leadership efforts, collective success has been lacking.
Robson also lauded Fernandes’ recent form and confidence:
- Fantastic Form: “He [Fernandes] has been in fantastic form in the last two months.”
- High Confidence: “He is so confident at the moment. You can see it in his game.”
- Enjoying His Football: “He’s just loving his game at the moment, and he’s making a massive difference.”
- Confidence Impact: “And that’s what sometimes confidence can do. Players need confidence. And if they’ve got the ability, then it can make a major improvement on their game.”
In summary, while Bryan Robson recognises Bruno Fernandes’ immense talent and growing captaincy, he urges the Portuguese midfielder to eliminate perceived playacting when tackled to further enhance his and the team’s performance. Robson highlights the positive aspects of Fernandes’ leadership and recent form, while underscoring the need for collective improvement at Manchester United to achieve major honours.
What do you think? Should Bruno Fernandes change his playing style? Share your thoughts in the comments below!