Bruno Fernandes challenges the Premier League record of 20 assists! Carrick activates the Manchester United captain with such a simple method

The Western philosophy principle called "Occam's Razor" suggests that the simplest solutions in decision-making tend to be the most effective, and when interpreting events, one should select the theory with the least assumptions. In Chinese, this is expressed as "great skill appears simple." This principle perfectly describes Manchester United after Rúben Amorim’s departure: the complex 3-4-3 formation was abandoned, and the 4-2-3-1 system allowed more players to return to their natural positions, especially captain Bruno Fernandes.

Including one Premier League match under Darren Fletcher’s leadership, Manchester United has remained unbeaten in the league with 4 wins and 2 draws. Across all competitions, except for the last 1-1 draw with West Ham, Bruno Fernandes has either scored or assisted in every game, contributing to 7 goals in 6 matches, second only to his 9 goal involvements in 5 matches earlier in 2024.

Even in the West Ham match, Bruno created 4 shooting chances, including a corner assist to Luke Shaw, whose shot was cleared off the line by former teammate Wan-Bissaka. In stoppage time, Bruno delivered a precise cross, but Zirkzee’s header went wide, denying him an assist.

Data shows that Bruno currently has 12 assists in 27 Premier League rounds and needs 8 more to equal the single-season record of 20 assists held jointly by Arsenal’s Henry in 2002/03 and De Bruyne in 2019/20.

Bruno has appeared 23 times this Premier League season; at his current assist rate, with 11 matches left, only five or six assists would fall short of breaking the 20-assist record. However, if he maintains his recent momentum, it is entirely achievable.

Compared to his personal peak, Bruno now delivers fewer through balls but has increased his set-piece assists. Since August 2024, he has assisted 10 times from corners and free kicks, ranking among the league leaders. During the same period, he has 11 open-play assists, almost evenly split between the two.

Manchester United signed two players over the summer who play the number 10 role in a 3-4-3 formation: Cunha, who prefers controlling the ball and shooting, and Mbemou, who thrives using attacking space with teammates’ cover. Their arrival, combined with an extra center-back tactical shift, has forced Bruno to drop deeper.

This setup sacrifices some of Bruno’s attacking prowess and weakens Manchester United’s defense. The team has conceded 37 goals this season, the second-highest among the top 10 clubs, only better than Bournemouth’s 45. United also leads the league in goals conceded from counterattacks, closely linked to Bruno’s risky passes; when they fail, they put immediate pressure on the defense.

Yet all managers continue to rely on Bruno because his passing benefits teammates greatly. The 31-year-old Portuguese ironman isn’t a possession-style player; his strength lies in direct attacking. He combines quick one-twos with teammates, delivers instant passes, through balls, long switches, or crosses from wide areas. This style demands freedom to move, create and exploit space, and generate overloads. Meanwhile, solid defensive cover behind him is essential to neutralize opponents’ counterattacks.

Although turning 32 next season, if Manchester United wants to keep a creative core, Bruno remains the top choice. In the first match after Amorim’s exit, United drew 2-2 with Burnley. Bruno found space among four opponents and linked up with Patrick Doğu to spark multiple attacks, nearly scoring for the team.

In coaching and analysis, the pitch is divided into 18 rectangular zones (6 rows by 3 columns), with the central area outside the opponent’s box called "Zone 14," a key spot for creating chances. Since the 2020/21 season, Bruno has led the Premier League in both chance creation and assists from Zone 14, with 206 chances and 25 assists respectively.

For through balls from this area, he ranks second only to Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard and only Liverpool’s Salah has created more high-quality chances there. Bruno’s diagonal pass to Sheshko helped Manchester United take a 1-0 lead over Burnley.

Broadcast footage reveals Bruno’s incredible spatial awareness; he constantly scans the field, analyzing his options, and uses brief pauses to create space for teammates. Arsenal and Brighton are among the Premier League’s best high-pressing teams, yet Bruno exploits this pressure to aid his side’s attacks.

In the 2-0 victory over Tottenham, Bruno’s movement confused Spurs’ left-back Destiny Udogie, then passed to Casemiro. After a failed combination with Mbemou, Bruno reacted first to deliver a cross to Luke Shaw on the left, who assisted Amad Diallo’s goal, unfortunately disallowed for offside.

It’s understandable that in matches where Manchester United relies on counterattacks, like January’s Manchester Derby, Bruno is very active. The Red Devils had ample attacking space to utilize, and Bruno thrived as United beat City 2-0, giving Carrick a winning start. In the first goal, Bruno drove forward and passed perfectly to Mbemou, who scored with his favored left foot.

Though fans love sharing clips of United’s passing to embarrass City and Arsenal on social media, the undeniable truth is that United’s most threatening attacks don’t come from such patterns. Statistics show that over the past 18 months, United scored only 4 Premier League goals involving 10 or more consecutive passes, compared to 19 for City, 13 for Liverpool, and 11 for Spurs.

United’s main approach remains two-on-two combinations; for example, in the 3-2 win over Arsenal, Bruno and Doğu broke through the middle and scored the team’s second goal this way.

Since August 2019, only Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva have completed more one-twos than Bruno. His best chemistry has been with former teammate Rashford and currently with fullbacks Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot.

Another trait of Bruno playing as a number 10 is his strong influence off the ball, as he contributes simply through his movement. "I now run more than in any other aspect," Bruno said. "Compared to when I started, it’s very different. Back then, players around me ran 6-7 kilometers per game and ranked among the top. Now, if you run less than 9 to 10 kilometers, you get called lazy."

However, when dropping deeper and engaging in physical duels during runs, Bruno’s performance declines. Therefore, in defense, Carrick arranges a simple 4-4-2 formation with Mbemou and Bruno positioned as forwards. Against City, they forced errors, and Bruno nearly assisted Mbemou in a one-on-one chance.

Bruno has now passed his sixth anniversary at Manchester United, and his £47 million transfer fee has proven excellent value. His assist to Sheshko for a stoppage-time winner against Fulham was his fourth decisive assist this season. Overall, he has provided 18 match-winning assists at United, second only to De Bruyne (22) and Salah (21).

Carrick said: "I have nothing but praise for him. He has outstanding ability at crucial moments, a calm temperament, and can deliver decisive contributions. This is nothing new."

Manchester United may need to find a new style without Bruno in the future, but as long as he remains, the team should maximize his strengths and minimize weaknesses. Carrick uses Amorim’s designated Bruno backup, Cody Menoe, paired with Casemiro in midfield, allowing the Portuguese midfielder more freedom to attack. The simplest solutions are often the best.

This approach might not be enough for Manchester United to compete for Premier League or Champions League titles, but for now, the goal is a top-four finish, and past experience shows this tactic is the most effective.