The World Cup has been a stage for some of the world's best players to shine, but for Manchester United's captain Bruno Fernandes, it has been a bit of a damp squib so far. While he made history with 21 assists in the Premier League last season, his performance at the World Cup has been a struggle, with just one assist in four matches. This is a stark contrast to his usual consistency and creativity, which has led many to question his role in the Portuguese national team.
One of the key issues is the change in his playing style. Fernandes is dropping deeper for his country, which is a sharp contrast to his usual position and focus in the opposition half. This shift in his game has been influenced by the tactics of the Portuguese coach, Roberto Martinez, who has been trying to balance the use of his star men. However, this move has not been successful, as Fernandes is not getting the best out of his attacking midfield maestro.
The problem is that Fernandes is not used to playing centrally, and this has affected his performance. For United, he is the main creative channel, and he relishes that responsibility. However, on the international stage, it is a different story. Against Croatia, Portugal were forcing play down the left flank, which has seen Fernandes drift more to that side, away from his usual position on the right.
This change in his game has been a source of frustration for Fernandes, and it is not just the number of touches that tells the story. His heat maps show that he is not getting the ball in the areas where he can do the most damage, which is just on the edge of the box. This has led many to question his role in the Portuguese national team, and it is not just the number of touches that tells the story.
However, it is not all doom and gloom for Fernandes this summer. When the ball is coming to him, he is proving to be one of the strongest midfielders at the World Cup. CIES Football Observatory has found that Fernandes is leading the way for the most short, penetrative passes per 90 minutes, which are causing issues for opponents. But he is not being used nearly as much as other stars.
Martinez has a hard task this summer as he balances the use of his star men. Against Croatia, focusing on other routes, like Leao, worked for Portugal. However, with Spain to come in the round of 16, Martinez would be wise to look at a strategy that suits Fernandes. Luis de la Fuente's team have yet to concede at this World Cup, and if you want one man to unlock a strong defence, you would choose the United captain.
In my opinion, the key to Fernandes' success at the World Cup is to get him playing in his usual position and style. He is a creative channel, and he relishes that responsibility. The Portuguese coach needs to find a way to get him involved in the attacking play, and to get him playing in the areas where he can do the most damage. Only then can he unlock his full potential and help Portugal to success at the World Cup.
