Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has won the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month award for March following a duo of impressive performances at the heart of the Red Devils’ midfield.
The award completes a trio of individual accolades for the talismanic midfielder after the 30-year-old also picked up both United and the Premier League’s Player of the Month awards as well.
Captain Fantastic Put simply, Fernandes has carried his side during the Spring period, with two all-action displays where his tireless work rate and relentless pressing are matched by consistent moments of quality in the opposition half. And in a team as starved of quality up front as United, these attacking contributions have been vital.
Due to the international break, United only played two league games in March – the 1-1 draw against Arsenal at Old Trafford and the 3-0 demolition away to Leicester City.
Fernandes was the best player on the pitch in both games, deployed in central midfield by Ruben Amorim.
The Portuguese international scored a fantastic free-kick to open proceedings against Arsenal, which ultimately secured the Reds a hard-earned point.
This was followed a week later by a brilliant long-range effort and two assists to blow away the Foxes at the King Power Stadium.
And while the award is solely based upon Premier League performances, Fernandes’ fine form was also reflected in other competitions.
A Rare Bright Spot The captain scored a well-taken equaliser against Fulham in the FA Cup, though United would ultimately exit the competition on penalties. And then in the Europa League, the 30-year-old produced a scintillating display to help his side defeat Real Sociedad 5-2 on aggregate in the last-sixteen, scoring a hat-trick in the process.
It’s a testament to the abject displays from Fernandes’ teammates this season that the midfielder has undoubtedly been one of the best players in the league this season, and should be in contention for the Premier League’s Team of the Season, but finds his side languished in 13th in the table.
If United’s squad could match the quality of their captain’s performances, the rebuild which Amorim and INEOS are desperately trying to implement would happen almost overnight.
Alas, Fernandes remains a rare bright spot (alongside Amad) in an otherwise abysmal season for the club, as recognised by Premier League fans themselves.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
