How could Man Utd replace injured Fernandes?

Manager Ruben Amorim is hopeful that the midfielder will not suffer any significant damage because he believes the player will have to wait a while on the sidelines. At the end of the first half, Fernandes reached for his hamstring, before continuing and coming off at the break.

Given the Portuguese playmaker’s remarkable availability since joining Sporting in January 2020, any absence would be especially noteworthy.

Only three of the four suspensions resulted from injuries or illnesses.

At the end of the 2023-24 campaign, he was out for two games straight before the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.

The bad news for Amorim is that United has lost five of its previous six league games, including Fernandes’.

Here are United’s next seven games, despite the uncertainty surrounding Fernandes’ long-term suspension:

Amorim has consistently emphasized that Mainoo and Fernandes share similar aesthetics, which makes them in direct competition with one another. The 20-year-old has a chance to show his manager he was wrong to leave him out so frequently, in theory.

Amorim claimed Mainoo was unfit to face Newcastle because he had a calf problem and was unfortunate to miss the defeat at Villa.

Mainoo was allegedly excluded from the “Free Kobbie Mainoo” T-shirt because his half-brother wore it during the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth, according to conspiracy theories.

However, Amorim’s admission that his own brother committed the same crime during his own career required him to apologize and take some distance from what had transpired would be ignored.

Ugarte and Casemiro have tended to compete for the same position, just like Mainoo and Fernandes. The pair last started playing together in the league last April when they played Manchester City for a goalless draw.

Another disappointing statistic is that United have not won any of the nine league starts started by Uruguay midfielder Ugarte, a record only broken by Brazilian Kleberson.

At half-time in Villa Park, Lisandro Martinez took Fernandes’ place. Prior to becoming a defender, Amorim stated that he would only consider Martinez as a midfielder “in an emergency.”

Martinez was arguably Amorim’s most effective performer at Villa Park, and this circumstance probably fits the bill.

Joshua Zirkzee might have a chance to be a number 10, but Mount’s ability to create him and playing him alongside Casemiro might make sense of it.

Amorim believes that Mount should play the number 10, but that he must also fulfill the role in an emergency, like Martinez.

The United head coach clearly admires the versatility of the England man, who has also played wing-back.

Fletcher, who made his Villa Park debut, possesses the qualities Amorim require. Fletcher, a former United and Scotland midfielder, has a lot of energy like his father, Darren.

He has made significant progress over the past few months and has a good passing range.

Amorim has made numerous attempts to get United to play his particular system, never abiding by his philosophy.

Instead of adapting his system to fit the players at his disposal, Amorim uses a system-first approach, asking each of his players to pick a particular characteristic for each position.

His midfielders’ needs and what he wants from them may help him with his management transitions over the coming months.

Amorim chooses a 3-2-4-1 formation that doesn’t require him to possess the majority of the ball.

Amorim initially looked to build up short, but to his credit, he has since decided to play long games away from the keeper more frequently, which suits the players he has. Players must be able to win second balls and cover a lot of ground.

His team are also asked to perform passing routines, with many of United’s midfielders playing through-balls over the top for attackers to run in behind.

Therefore, these instructions must be followed by the midfield duo.

Casemiro and Fernandes, Amorim’s preferred midfield duo, provides information on what questions his midfielders must answer.

When the ball is played long, Casemiro’s position is more positionally strict, with the defense being screened, play being broken, and moving up and down the pitch to close the gap between the defense and the attacker.

Fernandes has the ability to run viciously up and down the pitch, returning to defend as needed despite being given permission to contribute in attack.

Both players tend to make direct passes to behind-attackers, but neither take many touches in midfield, which is a trait that Amorim’s tactical strategy embodies.

The other midfield options must therefore fit into Casemiro or Fernandes’ roles, with Ugarte most likely to serve as Casemiro’s backup while Mount, Martinez, and Mainoo both possess some of the qualities needed to perform Fernandes’ duties.

Amorim has the other option: modify his system in light of the constraints imposed by the injuries sustained by United and the Africa Cup of Nations.

Although he hasn’t yet done this at Old Trafford, he did hint when asked about a lack of wing-backs, assuming “we have to change for a back four, we change for a back four.”

His hand could be forced in the same way by the lack of midfielders.

Mainoo would be the obvious beneficiary if United wanted to increase to four at the back with three in the middle.

Given the specific tactical requirements Amorim requests for this system, the England man has struggled to take Casemiro or Fernandes out. The United manager believes that a midfield three would be more appropriate with Mainoo’s strengths and weaknesses.

You guys see Kobbie differently from what I see because we are playing with two midfielders,” he said.