Making predictions about the future is a dangerous business. But when the sun sets on this period of United history, it seems inevitable that Bruno Fernandes will be remembered as the era’s outstanding player.

Admittedly, the span of years we’re talking about – the turbulent phase between Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement and the present day – will not be remembered too fondly by most Reds. But Bruno’s output is there, and it demands, and deserves, respect.

Throughout all the different managers, all the many team-mates, it’s always been there. Relentless productivity, no matter the peculiarity or difficulty of the circumstances.

If we didn’t already know that, recent weeks have made it blazingly clear. This is factually Manchester United’s worst Premier League campaign since England’s top flight rebranded in 1992. But would you know it looking at Bruno’s individual figures? Would you heck.

His 16 goals so far mean this is already his second-best individual season as a Red. He also has 15 assists, at the time of writing. He’s scored or assisted 40 per cent of our goals, including 12 of the last 15. He was named our Player of the Month for both February and March. I could go on… there’s enough stats to blast the Opta head office to Orion.

But, remarkably, despite all this, Bruno remains a controversial figure for some critics. On Sunday, after the Leicester win, the player responded directly to comments made by legendary former United skipper Roy Keane, who has complained that Fernandes is “not a fighter” and questioned the 30-year-old’s captaincy style.

Our recent Player of the Month polls, however, suggest that most Reds don’t agree…

STANDOUT MOMENT

How long have you got? Bruno has contributed in virtually every conceivable way in recent weeks, and his portfolio of goals and assists contains stunning levels of variety.

Direct free-kicks? Two, against Everton and Arsenal. Long-range classics? Yep, that Sunday-night pearler at Leicester. Penalties? Plenty, of course. Smart, ruthless finishes? There was one with the left foot, against Fulham, and one with the right, versus Real Sociedad.

Assists? They run the gamut, from a series of wicked set-pieces (Ipswich) to great through balls (Hojlund v Leicester).

But, writing purely as a fan, I think my favourite moment was in the latter stages of the 3-2 win over Ipswich. We’d been down to 10 men for more than half the game and were clinging onto the advantage earned through Harry Maguire’s header (another Fernandes assist). In the final stages, however, Bruno showed the full scope of his personality and spirit. In one memorable passage he made a block on the edge of United’s box, steamed up the left flank, almost created a goal with a cross for Noussair Mazraoui, and then dragged his legs all the way back again, as Ipswich threatened to counter. Adam Crafton, of The Athletic, tweeted: “The fitness and stamina of Bruno Fernandes is remarkable.”

It summed up Bruno’s leadership of a struggling team; the Portuguese willing to do every job necessary, across 90 draining minutes, to pull his team-mates through to victory. He might not be able to tackle like Bryan Robson and Roy Keane, but he matches them for energy, and leaves them in the dust when it comes to creativity and goalscoring. 

But why compare directly? Footballers, and leaders, come in different shapes and sizes. And – it’s important to stress – every player must operate within the different scenarios and contexts that shape their careers. Keane, for example, was relegated with Nottingham Forest in 1993, and then won the Double at United just a year later.

PERFORMANCE INSIGHT

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Fernandes’s recent performances is his adapted position. In Ruben Amorim’s much-discussed 3-4-2-1 system, he plays not in one of the two no.10 roles, as widely forecasted, but as a deeper central midfielder.

That adjustment was there from the early days under Amorim. After the 3-2 win over Bodo/Glimt – our new head coach’s first home game – the 40-year-old said of Bruno: “I think he is a midfielder.”

Previous United managers have somewhat disagreed with that – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sometimes suggested he viewed Bruno as more of a forward than a midfielder – but Fernandes has continued in the role during recent weeks. 

After our hero scored a hat-trick against Real Sociedad at Old Trafford earlier this month, Amorim explained that the idea behind the adjustment was designed to help the whole team. “Sometimes we need him at No.8, No.10, and No.6!” he smiled.

The theory is that Fernandes has both the legs and the vision to get the ball into the final third, whether it’s through passing or carrying it. That he has the short game to control the tempo of matches when required. At the moment it’s working, with United only beaten once (via penalties) in the last seven games.

BRUNO SAID

“I do the things in my own way, to try to be the best – not captain – but person and team-mate as I can,” Fernandes told Sky Sports, in the aftermath of our last game, at the King Power Stadium.

“I do it every day. I try to be an example in everything I do, on the training sessions, on the pitch, in everything I do. But obviously, not everyone will like [that], not everyone will think in the same way, and I respect every opinion of everyone… I accept that there is a lot of margin for improvement in my game, in my leadership, in everything I do, even in my own life.”

THE BOSS SAID

“When we need him, he’s always there,” praised Ruben Amorim, after the Europa League second leg against Real Sociedad, just three days before that trip to the East Midlands. 

“He can change position, he can bring the ball forward, he can score goals. He can make transitions, like he showed today. In the last 10 minutes of the game, he can defend. 

“He’s a perfect captain for our team. We need to help him to win titles, because he’s a legend.”

Club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe joined Amorim’s chorus during his own recent interview with BBC Sport, saying: “The captain is a fantastic footballer. We definitely need Bruno.”

DID YOU KNOW?

No Premier League player has created more chances than Fernandes since he joined United from Sporting Club in January 2020, according to Sky Sports’ Peter Smith.

Bruno has now also surpassed 10 goals and 10 assists in all five of his full seasons in M16. His performance at Leicester took him to 50 Premier League assists, too – which adds him to an elite band of former United heroes that already contains Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Eric Cantona.

That’s some fine company to be keeping. You’ll do for us, Bruno.

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