It’s difficult to know how Michael Carrick will truly feel about Manchester United‘s 1-1 draw with Leeds United.
Just days after the Red Devils were shoved aside by Atletico Madrid and Lisandro Martinez added to internal woes in public fashion, United were undoubtedly harder to beat, but eventually far too blunt.
Some will say it’s progress at a tough Elland Road. Others will assume it’s another false dawn. The biggest concern that Carrick should have, however, is the form of Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes must revive season to save Carrick’s job
Just ask Ruben Amorim, if a Man United manager fails to get the best out of Fernandes, then they will face the sack sooner rather than later.
The Portugal international is integral to the Red Devils; everything runs through him when things are going well and that was the case when Carrick took United to Champions League football in his interim spell last season.
When things are not going well, that’s when problems tend to emerge for the Man United captain. It was Amorim who fell victim to the midfielder’s last rough patch, albeit in a deeper role.
Now, Carrick could follow suit, having changed Fernandes’ role to the right-hand side in Madrid in mid-week and into more of a false nine role against Leeds.
The responsibility doesn’t just lie in the technical area, though. Fernandes is one of the best players in world football when in form, but then out of form, he can quickly become a passenger.
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Bruno Fernandes’ last six games |
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|---|---|
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Games |
6 |
|
Goals |
0 |
|
Assists |
0 |
The numbers are damning for Fernandes. Aside from a stunning hat-trick and an assist against Ipswich Town, he has not been involved in a single goal in the Premier League this season. For the current holder of the PFA Player of the Season award, that is absurd.
Against Leeds, the skipper fared no better. He took the joint-most shots in the game (3) but never really looked like scoring. The midfielder also won just one of his six duels and created only one chance.
While that form continues, Man United and Carrick have been forced to fall back on the player who dragged them to a draw against Leeds on Sunday.
Man Utd star is now undroppable for Carrick
After choosing to match Leeds with a change of shape, the role of Man United’s front three was crucial. In a back five, any service would be limited and any chances would have to be snapped up.
What didn’t help was how Leeds scrapped away. The hosts were not there to roll the red carpet out for their struggling rivals. They were there to start a battle they hoped United could not match.
One thing they did not bank on was the mood of Bryan Mbeumo. Having been wasteful in mid-week, the £65m forward put things right on the big occasion – opening the scoring for the Red Devils.
It speaks volumes that, even whilst his chief creator struggles, Mbeumo continues to perform.
It was his movement which led to a headed chance which he should have scored, just before he made up for lost time by finding the back of the net. The warning signs were there for Leeds, but they simply did not listen.
Mbeumo’s goal took him up to four for the season and two in his last two Premier League games. In the absence of Benjamin Sesko and even as Carrick opts for control over transitional spark, the former Brentford forward has still become the man of the moment.
It certainly hands INEOS food for thought. They’re currently in the midst of a Fernandes contract dilemma, but his form suggests that he may well be edging past his best at 32 years old. If that is the case, then it will be Mbeumo who takes the role as Man United’s most important player, starting this season.
For Carrick, meanwhile, he at least has an undroppable forward to build around – solving one of many emerging problems at Old Trafford.
