What did Carrick do to help Bruno Fernandes excel at Manchester United?

Bruno Fernandes is experiencing an outstanding period of performance in Manchester United's colors under manager Michael Carrick, and the English strategist has also explained the tactical adjustments that maximize the qualities of the Red Devils' captain.

The race for Champions League qualification for Manchester United has now become quite clear, and the challenge for Bruno Fernandes is equally straightforward. The Portuguese midfielder only needs to create three more goals in the final five rounds of the season to become the "assist king" of this Premier League season.

Fernandes currently has 18 assists after setting up Matheus Cunha's decisive goal in the win against Chelsea last weekend. This number leaves him just two goal-creating passes short of the league record – jointly held by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry.

In a Premier League season often defined by physical play and set-piece situations, Fernandes's creativity stands out clearly, also placing him among the candidates for the Player of the Season award. Winning this award would be the perfect mark for another impressive season for the captain of Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Fernandes had already been performing well under Ruben Amorim, but when Michael Carrick took over the team, he was returned to his familiar attacking midfield position. This decision quickly proved effective. In 12 matches under the guidance of the 44-year-old manager, Fernandes contributed 10 assists along with three goals – a record that demonstrates his significant influence in the new system.

Under Amorim, Fernandes often played deeper in his compatriot's 3-4-2-1 formation. However, Carrick believed granting more attacking freedom to the 31-year-old player would yield greater value. He built the team structure to facilitate Fernandes maximizing his creative abilities.

Carrick shared: "The important thing is to create a foundation for Bruno to express himself. We try to build the structure and the way the team operates to best utilize the abilities of every player. Of course, everyone must sacrifice a part for the collective. But I like seeing Bruno operating in attacking positions with a bit of freedom."

The English manager also emphasized the comprehensive role of the captain of Manchester United: "He always plays for the team and has great responsibility. I think Bruno has done very well, especially in Saturday's match, even without the ball with a large defensive workload. We trust Bruno. He is a very good player, with vision, creativity, excellent tactical thinking, and also has a big influence in the dressing room. Therefore, it's important to place Bruno in the position where we believe he can make the biggest difference."

Fernandes has directly contributed to goals in 10 out of 12 matches since Carrick took charge. The relationship between the two has actually existed for a long time. Carrick was a first-team assistant when Manchester United acquired Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon for an initial fee of £47 million in January 2020.

This longstanding connection, along with a deep understanding of the club – Carrick even still holds season tickets for his family – helped him quickly identify the best way to utilize Fernandes's abilities when replacing Amorim in January.

Carrick added: "I've known Bruno for a long time and worked with him when he first arrived at the club, so I'm not surprised. I understand clearly what he can bring. Over time, players evolve and experience helps them mature. You can see Bruno has developed in a very positive direction. He has a big influence, creates a clear impact, and is playing extremely well. We are very pleased with that."