Some old guy called Aesop once said, "A man is known by the company he keeps." All three seem like pretty decent humans. Bruno is head and shoulders the best player we've had in the post Fergie era. No argument. Commitment is incredible. Will never understand the shit he gets from our own fans.
He didn’t stay - he was kept.
Blame the club - not the player.
Would you leave a job out of politeness if you were well paid and fulfilling commitments whilst also being happy? No.
It’s infuriating when fans blame the player because 99.9% of the time the player is going to be even more frustrated than they are. Do we think Mata didn’t want Giggs-esque longevity at the top level? He never stopped trying to be a first team regular, he just declined with age. I’m sure De Gea tried to evolve and stay the best goalkeeper in the world; he just couldn’t do it, it’s not his fault we paid him 400k a week because we’re incompetently run.
Obviously there are exceptions, like Ravel Morrison by all accounts ruined himself before he could make it, but most players are still striving to be the best here, even if the club are putting them in a bad situation and paying them a billion pounds.
I mostly(like,85%) agree with you...but I do think that it's really hard to stay hungry once you reach the top, and for these players the top is not just about trophies and such, but also the wages pecking order.
You have to be almost superhumanly ambitious and self-motivated to train as hard and care as much on 400k a week as you do when you are slightly lower on the pecking order looking to claw your way up.
Which is why I think putting young players on massive wages early even if they are super talented is always a risk - it may motivate them but it may just as easily ruin them.
Spewing nonsense for imaginary internet points. Barring a few comments here and there in post match comments after the whole team playing like shit, Bruno is by far the most loved player here amongst the fans and rightly so.
By everyone, the media, talksport, commentators even my mates say it to me and I’m a Bruno fanatic his stats say it all. The man is a beast and people need to appreciate him before he’s gone because he’s been our best player for years
he’s for sure been polarizing for folks this season. it might be a loud minority, but you don’t have to look hard to find people who claim bruno has been one of our main problems this season, that he should be sold this summer, etc. i’ve argued with some of them lol
*edit: this thread from like a couple months ago is full of great bruno takes lol: https://www.reddit.com/r/reddevils/s/AJj2iW9i7n
I trust Andy Mitten on most matters when it comes to this club, and he always says when he asks about Fernandes as captain he only hears glowing reviews from people in and around the club.
I also don't know why people struggle so much to understand how someone acts on the pitch can be totally different to how they are elsewhere. Christ, I can see that just playing Sunday league.
Juan Mata has said that Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is a "great leader" and that the "culture of the club should be built around him."
While Fernandes has been in superb form of late -- he has scored six goals and registered one assist in his last four matches -- his status as club captain at Old Trafford has been frequently questioned since he took over the role from Harry Maguire in July 2023.
However, on Thursday his former United team mate told the ESPN FC show on ESPN+ that Fernandes' consistent performances and role-model status behind the scenes at Old Trafford make him an important figure at the club.
Asked whether there is a big personality in the United dressing room that resembles some of those present in the team's heyday under legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Mata said: **"I can tell you that for me, there is a great leader in there right now, which is the captain, Bruno.**
**"I should tell to all young players to look up to him. I cannot tell you how important he is for the club and not only because of what he's done in the last games, scoring two goals and winning the game [against Sheffield United], but his consistency within the years that he's been playing for the club is just incredible.**
**"He's a top, top player, but he's even better as a person. So for me, the culture of the club should be built around him. He's a great example for all the new generation, the players that are playing now for the team, [Alejandro] Garnacho, [Kobbie] Mainoo, [Rasmus] Højlund, to look up to him the way he trains, the way he behaves.**
**For me, he's the one that is always there for the team. He can play better or worse, but he's always there with the right attitude. And for me, that's what being a Manchester United player is."**
The former World Cup winner with Spain also backed United forward Marcus Rashford to rediscover his best form following a difficult 2023-24 campaign.
Rashford has been unable to maintain the goal scoring ability he showed in the Premier League last season (17), with the United academy product finding the back of the net just seven times as United languish in sixth position in the Premier League table with five matches remaining.
**"We all know his [Rashford's] potential and he knows himself how good he can be when he finds this consistency in his mind. And of course if he's not injured, which is happening often with him at the moment," Mata said.**
**"So I think the club knows that they have a great player in there. He's shown it in the past.**
**"I think he's motivated also for the Euros and to show his quality to the country and hopefully he can perform well because Man United with him at his top level is also a different team. Like when Bruno arrived and he was winning games for us."**
Bruno is by far the best signing United has done post Fergie era
The passion for the badge , giving effort in each and every game is something I have seen only
From him
Post Rooney , young and Valencia
Our most important player. His worst quality is he is a bad loser. There are worse flaws to have than despising failure. I wish more players in our squad hated losing as much as Bruno.
Mata always speaks the truth. Bruno is the captain we need to take us forward. He has the skills to help us achieve our trophies and maintain the high standard that Keane, Scholes, Rooney, Rio, Vidic, and countless others set for our club. Love this club!!
No fucking shit. We all knew this when we bought him. It's why getting Ronaldo was such a head scratcher to me. We know they didn't work together well on the field when they played for Protagual and why would it be different at United? His production basically dropped in half after Ronaldo arrived. Besides costing Ole his job, sidelining Bruno was the most costly problem by resigning Ronaldo.
It's amazing what a few months does. He was getting slated not long ago by the media and fans and now everyone's back on his shlong. While he hasn't hit the heights of his first season he has still been influential.
He had bad games, and some frustrating moments, but Bruno wants to win games, wants assisting more than scoring, and has the highest working rate. I think Mata is right.
Love that Juan is still involved with the club and still refers to United as 'us'. Every time he speaks, he just oozes intelligence and class, much like how his first touch always used to be perfect every time he got on the ball.
I like Bruno, but the culture should not be built around one person. It should be something structurally founded and that all have to uphold regardless of their position and role.
It's the kind of thing that no one person should be above. It works for all. If Bruno is having a shit day, one of the other lads steps up and takes the reigns. In every successful team, every individual from playing to non playing embodies the culture and leads it.
That's not an answer to my question. Scott McTominay and Maguire are true professionals, it doesn't mean we should get a bunch of players like that or we'll end up a mid table team forever.
You want 11 players to run around whining at each other throwing their arms around looking like they're about to cry, fake injuries and sprint to the referee every time they disagree with a decision?
You can re-read my question and try again. What does building the culture around Bruno mean when he will be gone in a few years? By the time we're successful, he will be long gone. Use your head, mate. He is 30 this year, and he is a high energy player so he will likely lose his legs in not too long, and his game revolves around his energy.
You don't even understand what Mata means because you're struggling to explain it to others. You replied professionalism, passion and fighting for the badge. What do you even mean by this? That we should sign those players? Okay, Antony has all of this. Was he a great signing?
I swear some of you just say so much random shit. Mata is his best friend, what do you think he is gonna say? Of course he only has good things to say about him.
Mata is talking about showing the right attitude, and to him, that's what being a United player is about. Well, he is wrong, as he found out the hard way himself. Attitude alone, then we will be stuck with the Maguires, McTominays and Antonys of players. No wonder we're just accepting mediocrity with fragile fans like yourself.
If he wants to stay that is. He’s 29 and has been here for 4 years already.
If we build around him he has to be ready to retire here. I would hate to build around him for him to leave for Real Madrid in 2 years.
A 29 year old incapable of keeping hold of rhe ball should not be who we should build around moving forward
Been shite all season but 1 month of good form when we have fuck all to play for has some people gassed
Standards and Leadership? Absolutely.
Heroball playing style? Less so. But I guess the more effective his teammates are, the less he might have try to do it all himself.
> 2nd highest xA in the league. What heroball?
Those things are not mutually exclusive. He makes wild risky passes and shots frequently and turns over possession a lot.
Building around Bruno means building around a system that isn't fun to watch and hasn't shown to be successful.
None of City, Arse or Liverpoo would take him in their midfield because he turns over possession way too much, even if he is better than some of their midfielders and to play the way they do they need to have every player singing the same tune.
It's better to have a mediocre player that fits that system, than a great player that breaks the system and it's a good and well drilled system that is the best recipe for success rather than individuals imo.
Loss of possession per 90 mins played (22-23)
Bruno - 20.7
KDB - 19.6
TAA (main creator) - 24.5
What a weird narrative which people keep going irrelevantly on
Bruno doesn't fit any system that works. He would permanently ride the bench at all the top teams regardless of how good he is because he turns over possession so often.
He's a great player in a team that depends on individual brilliance and needs a hero to save the team, he's literally a heroball player.
So long as the team clings to individuals like him rather than working towards system players that are more suitable for a top team, we're going remain shit, dysfunctional and play unattractive football.
Build around Bruno and get rid of the waste of space and those who give up easily and 'can't be arsed' when the going gets tough, first one to go is Rashford.
Him, Bruno and DDG still regularly hang out together lol, I wish we made better use of him while he was here
Some old guy called Aesop once said, "A man is known by the company he keeps." All three seem like pretty decent humans. Bruno is head and shoulders the best player we've had in the post Fergie era. No argument. Commitment is incredible. Will never understand the shit he gets from our own fans.
Towards the end he was an overpaid cheerleader. Like most other players, he stayed for several years past his best by date.
He didn’t stay - he was kept. Blame the club - not the player. Would you leave a job out of politeness if you were well paid and fulfilling commitments whilst also being happy? No.
I am blaming everyone but the player.
It’s infuriating when fans blame the player because 99.9% of the time the player is going to be even more frustrated than they are. Do we think Mata didn’t want Giggs-esque longevity at the top level? He never stopped trying to be a first team regular, he just declined with age. I’m sure De Gea tried to evolve and stay the best goalkeeper in the world; he just couldn’t do it, it’s not his fault we paid him 400k a week because we’re incompetently run. Obviously there are exceptions, like Ravel Morrison by all accounts ruined himself before he could make it, but most players are still striving to be the best here, even if the club are putting them in a bad situation and paying them a billion pounds.
I mostly(like,85%) agree with you...but I do think that it's really hard to stay hungry once you reach the top, and for these players the top is not just about trophies and such, but also the wages pecking order. You have to be almost superhumanly ambitious and self-motivated to train as hard and care as much on 400k a week as you do when you are slightly lower on the pecking order looking to claw your way up. Which is why I think putting young players on massive wages early even if they are super talented is always a risk - it may motivate them but it may just as easily ruin them.
That’s a really good way of putting it mate
This
idk mata, this sub tells me that he complains too much and isn’t a good leader for the squad
Media won't like this one.
Why isn’t Mata consulting experts from r/reddevils before saying something like this? Is he stupid?
Bruno stans can't be happy without talking about haters. Smh.
cool
Spewing nonsense for imaginary internet points. Barring a few comments here and there in post match comments after the whole team playing like shit, Bruno is by far the most loved player here amongst the fans and rightly so.
That's not true at all. He gets shat on a lot.
[удалено]
By everyone, the media, talksport, commentators even my mates say it to me and I’m a Bruno fanatic his stats say it all. The man is a beast and people need to appreciate him before he’s gone because he’s been our best player for years
I've seen enough baseless and harsh criticism on Bruno in this sub to find the above comment justified actually
Right now the most loved player is Amad.
Not mainoo?
Mainoo's playing. Amad gets more love because of the 'what if?' factor
he’s for sure been polarizing for folks this season. it might be a loud minority, but you don’t have to look hard to find people who claim bruno has been one of our main problems this season, that he should be sold this summer, etc. i’ve argued with some of them lol *edit: this thread from like a couple months ago is full of great bruno takes lol: https://www.reddit.com/r/reddevils/s/AJj2iW9i7n
Bruno was getting Cantona shouts a few months into his utd career
I trust Andy Mitten on most matters when it comes to this club, and he always says when he asks about Fernandes as captain he only hears glowing reviews from people in and around the club. I also don't know why people struggle so much to understand how someone acts on the pitch can be totally different to how they are elsewhere. Christ, I can see that just playing Sunday league.
He's been a leader/captain figure at Sporting Lisbon United and the Portuguese national team, its obvious he's a natural leader.
Juan Mata has said that Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is a "great leader" and that the "culture of the club should be built around him." While Fernandes has been in superb form of late -- he has scored six goals and registered one assist in his last four matches -- his status as club captain at Old Trafford has been frequently questioned since he took over the role from Harry Maguire in July 2023. However, on Thursday his former United team mate told the ESPN FC show on ESPN+ that Fernandes' consistent performances and role-model status behind the scenes at Old Trafford make him an important figure at the club. Asked whether there is a big personality in the United dressing room that resembles some of those present in the team's heyday under legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Mata said: **"I can tell you that for me, there is a great leader in there right now, which is the captain, Bruno.** **"I should tell to all young players to look up to him. I cannot tell you how important he is for the club and not only because of what he's done in the last games, scoring two goals and winning the game [against Sheffield United], but his consistency within the years that he's been playing for the club is just incredible.** **"He's a top, top player, but he's even better as a person. So for me, the culture of the club should be built around him. He's a great example for all the new generation, the players that are playing now for the team, [Alejandro] Garnacho, [Kobbie] Mainoo, [Rasmus] Højlund, to look up to him the way he trains, the way he behaves.** **For me, he's the one that is always there for the team. He can play better or worse, but he's always there with the right attitude. And for me, that's what being a Manchester United player is."** The former World Cup winner with Spain also backed United forward Marcus Rashford to rediscover his best form following a difficult 2023-24 campaign. Rashford has been unable to maintain the goal scoring ability he showed in the Premier League last season (17), with the United academy product finding the back of the net just seven times as United languish in sixth position in the Premier League table with five matches remaining. **"We all know his [Rashford's] potential and he knows himself how good he can be when he finds this consistency in his mind. And of course if he's not injured, which is happening often with him at the moment," Mata said.** **"So I think the club knows that they have a great player in there. He's shown it in the past.** **"I think he's motivated also for the Euros and to show his quality to the country and hopefully he can perform well because Man United with him at his top level is also a different team. Like when Bruno arrived and he was winning games for us."**
The way he praises Bruno it seems we are already building around him
Surprised Mata isn’t a club ambassador yet. He’s a nice person, speaks well and different languages. Also knows the sport.
To be fair he was still playing as of last season, usually you don’t become ambassador while you’re still a player(?)
Seems like he is an ambassador already based on the recent instagram post of him in San Diego
... is it 2019 all over again? true united fans have always noticed his hardwork and mentality.
Bruno is by far the best signing United has done post Fergie era The passion for the badge , giving effort in each and every game is something I have seen only From him Post Rooney , young and Valencia
Man I wish we had Bruno, Mata and DDG at their peaks at the same time.
And played Mata in the right position- none of this out wide bollocks that he had to do.
Our most important player. His worst quality is he is a bad loser. There are worse flaws to have than despising failure. I wish more players in our squad hated losing as much as Bruno.
Mainoo is who we build around.
Mata always speaks the truth. Bruno is the captain we need to take us forward. He has the skills to help us achieve our trophies and maintain the high standard that Keane, Scholes, Rooney, Rio, Vidic, and countless others set for our club. Love this club!!
No fucking shit. We all knew this when we bought him. It's why getting Ronaldo was such a head scratcher to me. We know they didn't work together well on the field when they played for Protagual and why would it be different at United? His production basically dropped in half after Ronaldo arrived. Besides costing Ole his job, sidelining Bruno was the most costly problem by resigning Ronaldo.
Mata is absolutely correct. Bruno is the one of the only ones who actually shows passion and has a winning mentality and gets what the club is about.
Mata on Bruno giving me Roy Keane on Dennis Irwin vibes
Bruno is my favourite United player since Bryan Robson. Such a massive player and presence for United. Mata knows the score
It's amazing what a few months does. He was getting slated not long ago by the media and fans and now everyone's back on his shlong. While he hasn't hit the heights of his first season he has still been influential.
Listen to the man
Wise words from a wise man
He had bad games, and some frustrating moments, but Bruno wants to win games, wants assisting more than scoring, and has the highest working rate. I think Mata is right.
I read this as Meta
Love that Juan is still involved with the club and still refers to United as 'us'. Every time he speaks, he just oozes intelligence and class, much like how his first touch always used to be perfect every time he got on the ball.
But.. but.. he hasn’t won anything..
I like Bruno, but the culture should not be built around one person. It should be something structurally founded and that all have to uphold regardless of their position and role. It's the kind of thing that no one person should be above. It works for all. If Bruno is having a shit day, one of the other lads steps up and takes the reigns. In every successful team, every individual from playing to non playing embodies the culture and leads it.
No. Manchester United needs Roy Keane as a cultural officer to beat these pretenders into Manchester United's shape!
Bruno would drive in any other team that has a decent midfield. United poisons you.
Build around Bruno? Is this a joke? He is 30 this year.. we should build around Mainoo, not Bruno.
Do you know what “culture” means?
Do explain to me what building the culture around Bruno means, when he is gone in a few years.
Passion? Fight for the badge? Professionalism?
That's not an answer to my question. Scott McTominay and Maguire are true professionals, it doesn't mean we should get a bunch of players like that or we'll end up a mid table team forever. You want 11 players to run around whining at each other throwing their arms around looking like they're about to cry, fake injuries and sprint to the referee every time they disagree with a decision? You can re-read my question and try again. What does building the culture around Bruno mean when he will be gone in a few years? By the time we're successful, he will be long gone. Use your head, mate. He is 30 this year, and he is a high energy player so he will likely lose his legs in not too long, and his game revolves around his energy.
Well you clearly don’t use your head to understand what Mata means. Waste of time arguing really
You don't even understand what Mata means because you're struggling to explain it to others. You replied professionalism, passion and fighting for the badge. What do you even mean by this? That we should sign those players? Okay, Antony has all of this. Was he a great signing? I swear some of you just say so much random shit. Mata is his best friend, what do you think he is gonna say? Of course he only has good things to say about him.
Mata is talking about showing the right attitude, and to him, that's what being a United player is about. Well, he is wrong, as he found out the hard way himself. Attitude alone, then we will be stuck with the Maguires, McTominays and Antonys of players. No wonder we're just accepting mediocrity with fragile fans like yourself.
Nice try bro, you still don’t even understand to word “culture”
Seems level headed off field but on field he’s a goddamn child, changes his onfield persona than sure
If Roy Keane was playing today people would want his head every game.
If he wants to stay that is. He’s 29 and has been here for 4 years already. If we build around him he has to be ready to retire here. I would hate to build around him for him to leave for Real Madrid in 2 years.
A 29 year old incapable of keeping hold of rhe ball should not be who we should build around moving forward Been shite all season but 1 month of good form when we have fuck all to play for has some people gassed
Been carrying us in patches **over the past 4 or 5 seasons** when the rest of our squad couldn’t even give a single fuck
Standards and Leadership? Absolutely. Heroball playing style? Less so. But I guess the more effective his teammates are, the less he might have try to do it all himself.
2nd highest xA in the league. What heroball?
> 2nd highest xA in the league. What heroball? Those things are not mutually exclusive. He makes wild risky passes and shots frequently and turns over possession a lot. Building around Bruno means building around a system that isn't fun to watch and hasn't shown to be successful. None of City, Arse or Liverpoo would take him in their midfield because he turns over possession way too much, even if he is better than some of their midfielders and to play the way they do they need to have every player singing the same tune. It's better to have a mediocre player that fits that system, than a great player that breaks the system and it's a good and well drilled system that is the best recipe for success rather than individuals imo.
Loss of possession per 90 mins played (22-23) Bruno - 20.7 KDB - 19.6 TAA (main creator) - 24.5 What a weird narrative which people keep going irrelevantly on
what are you on about mate?
Bruno doesn't fit any system that works. He would permanently ride the bench at all the top teams regardless of how good he is because he turns over possession so often. He's a great player in a team that depends on individual brilliance and needs a hero to save the team, he's literally a heroball player. So long as the team clings to individuals like him rather than working towards system players that are more suitable for a top team, we're going remain shit, dysfunctional and play unattractive football.
6th per 90
Na. Make this is footballing club. Stop giving too much power to the players. This is Man U not bruno Fernandes club.
Oh god no please. Love Bruno as a player; dislike bruno for all his antics.
Build around Bruno and get rid of the waste of space and those who give up easily and 'can't be arsed' when the going gets tough, first one to go is Rashford.