{"id":166993,"date":"2025-03-09T21:02:39","date_gmt":"2025-03-09T21:02:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/09\/man-united-must-build-around-ageing-fernandes-but-still-need-five-players\/"},"modified":"2025-03-09T21:02:39","modified_gmt":"2025-03-09T21:02:39","slug":"man-united-must-build-around-ageing-fernandes-but-still-need-five-players","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/09\/man-united-must-build-around-ageing-fernandes-but-still-need-five-players\/","title":{"rendered":"Man United\u00a0must build around ageing Fernandes but\u00a0still need five players"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

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Passion off the pitch, passion on it. This showed how much people care about Manchester United. This was a good day for the club. The sun even came out.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thousands of United<\/a> fans protested against their club\u2019s co-owners, the Glazers, with a march before the game and chants during it. <\/p>\n

\n
<\/a><\/p>\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

The fans were saying their club is ‘dying’ during their chants<\/span>Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"But<\/a><\/p>\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

But there were encouraging signs of life on the pitch from the Red Devils players<\/span>Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They raged against the mismanagement of United, the shameful accumulation of debt, and the treatment of their club by the Glazers as an asset to be sweated. <\/p>\n

Fans care deeply. The time United should worry is when there\u2019s apathy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Their head coach, Ruben Amorim, obviously cares. His reputation has taken a kicking, and he\u2019s desperately keen to prove himself, and his methods. <\/p>\n

Amorim\u2019s body language throughout captured his emotional engagement with his players, encouraging and organising them.\u00a0<\/p>\n

His players have had their passion questioned but not here. <\/p>\n

Bruno Fernandes certainly cares for the cause, Alejandro Garnacho, too, as did the inexperienced but whole-hearted substitutes like Ayden Heaven and Toby Collyer. <\/p>\n

Even if the supporters\u2019 hopes of getting the Glazers out looks a forlorn one \u2013 there\u2019s too much money for the Americans to rake in longer-term \u2013 they can take some hope for the future in the fight most of their players showed in a deserved draw against Arsenal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some are unlikely to be here next season, ageing players like Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and the consistently unconvincing Victor Lindelof.<\/p>\n

United have to get them off the wage-bill, and build around younger, hungrier, more mobile players. And around Fernandes, United\u2019s key player at 30. <\/p>\n

He has his critics, but few inside Old Trafford. He has rescued United too often this season. He rallied the team when Arsenal were controlling the first half. <\/p>\n

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\"This<\/a><\/p>\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

This free-kick from Fernandes put Man United ahead just before half time<\/span>Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
<\/a><\/p>\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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\"Rice's<\/a><\/p>\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Rice’s sweeping finish in the second half ensured the spoils were shared<\/span>Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Martin Odegaard ran the show, too quick of mind and body for Casemiro and Eriksen. <\/p>\n

Fernandes annoys, moans, frustrates but he cares. After Garnacho won a free-kick shortly before the break, Fernandes punished David Raya\u2019s inexplicable decision to leave so much of the left side of his goal open. <\/p>\n

Fernandes accepted the invitation, and lifted the ball over the wall and in. He scores important goals \u2013 against Arsenal<\/a> in the FA Cup, the winner against Rangers in the Europa League, and launching fightbacks against Everton and Manchester City.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fernandes\u2019 passing also releases Garnacho, the 20-year-old dribbler who has to remain part of Amorim\u2019s plan. He reflects the promise of youth, so often an elixir for United. <\/p>\n

Lenny Yoro, a 19-year-old centre-back who mixes a sharp reading of incoming danger and his touch and fluidity of movement in possession. He suits Amorim\u2019s approach. <\/p>\n

Heaven came on at half time for Yoro, who\u2019d frustratingly taken a knock. Heaven is a raw prospect, a year younger than Yoro, and playing his first minutes in the Premier League.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\"Garnacho<\/a><\/p>\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Garnacho was heavily linked with a move away in January<\/span>Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"There<\/a><\/p>\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

There were encouraging performances from Man United’s younger players, including from ex-Arsenal youth player Heaven<\/span>Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Heaven received a few boos from the fans of Arsenal, who he\u2019d left in the summer. Quick and strong in the air, Heaven was fully committed.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s left-footed, a useful option with Lisandro Martinez injured. Heaven was not to blame when Jurrien Timber cut in from the right to set up the equaliser after 74 minutes. <\/p>\n

Noussair Mazraoui failed to stick with Timber, who cut the ball back for Declan Rice. The \u00a3105m midfielder scored with a sweeping shot from right to left. \u201cDeclan Rice \u2013 we got him half-price,\u201d sang the Arsenal fans. <\/p>\n

Rice, meanwhile, was down the other end, shushing the Stretford End. It was a fine goal, and his subsequent tackle on Rasmus Hojlund carried echoes of Bobby Moore in timing and precision. <\/p>\n

But it was still a disappointing day for his team. The title race was over anyway, but great teams fight to the end, however bitter.<\/p>\n

Arsenal would have lost but for Raya, who made an astonishing double-save from Fernandes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Troy Deeney claims Rasmus Hojlund is not Man United’s biggest problem, but one ‘frustration’ remains<\/span><\/div>\n

Odegaard tried to force a way through but Collyer hounded him until Arsenal\u2019s captain surrendered possession. Collyer brought some welcome mobility to United\u2019s midfield.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Collyer had replaced Zirkzee, who has a neat touch but lacks the the physicality or mentality for the No.9 role. He\u2019s better from deeper. <\/p>\n

He managed one good back-heel, well-saved by Raya, but was otherwise controlled by William Saliba. There was a 60-40 in his favour with Timber and the Arsenal defender won it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a wretched season for United, but there will surely be more belief in Amorim and his methods after this second half. <\/p>\n

Patrick Dorgu is an Amorim signing and at 20 years old has the pace and boldness for left-wing back but was suspended here. <\/p>\n

So there is hope for the future, including the possibility that the remaining players will increasingly absorb Amorim\u2019s tactics, especially after he has had a pre-season with them. <\/p>\n

\n
\"Amorim's<\/a><\/p>\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Amorim’s men are 14th in the table, but the signs for the future look encouraging<\/span>Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\"Arsenal's<\/a><\/p>\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Arsenal’s title challenge is as good as done<\/span>Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Amorim makes a legitimate point about Mikel Arteta being given time to build Arsenal, although United\u2019s head coach really needs to tone down his occasional gloomy pronouncements. <\/p>\n

He still needs four or five players in the summer. Arsenal, to the surprise of nobody, still need a No9.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Passion off the pitch, passion on it. This showed how much people care about Manchester United. This was a good day for the club. The sun even came out.\u00a0 Thousands of United fans protested against their club\u2019s co-owners, the Glazers, with a march before the game and chants during it. 9 The fans were saying […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":166994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6807],"tags":[3890,2191,38774,49060,1828,110],"class_list":{"0":"post-166993","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leagues-cups","8":"tag-alejandro-garnacho","9":"tag-bruno-fernandes","10":"tag-henry-winter","11":"tag-joshua-zirkzee","12":"tag-man-united","13":"tag-manchester-united"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166993"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166993\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/166994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=166993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=166993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}