How many times have we reported on Manchester United players switching off and failing to fulfil basic defensive duties?
It took 18 minutes for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side to find the opener at the Etihad, with Phil Foden heading in from close range.
We can debate about how good a goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is and whether his positioning was correct. Regardless, the fact of the matter is that the goal could have been quite easily prevented.
One man who has to take at least some responsibility here is, sadly, skipper Bruno Fernandes.
Bruno Fernandes at fault for Man City goal
It feels painful to highlight the Portuguese international’s shortcomings when he continues to be the most integral player on the pitch for United.
However, Henry Winter spotted the playmaker (on X) failing to mark Foden ahead of the host’s first-half goal.
Bruno Fernandes is a very good player creatively but not defensively. Fernandes is a 10 not an 8. He failed to track his runner. Again. It’s not his strength or in his mind. So Phil Foden was unmarked for his headed goal. United overrun by City in midfield #MCIMUN #MCFC #MUFC
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) September 14, 2025
A quick look back at the footage for the City star’s opener confirms this, with the midfielder failing to glance even once over his left shoulder to keep track of the Englishman’s movement.
Ever a thorn for the Red Devils in the Manchester derby, the 25-year-old took advantage of Fernandes’ daydreaming to march unmarked toward the penalty spot and power a header home.
Phil Foden lights up the Etihad in the derby! 💥 pic.twitter.com/L1zRMuATsp
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 14, 2025
Man Utd light in midfield?
Theoretically, the three at the back formation, with supporting wingbacks, should yield desirable results for United going forward.
However, in the immediate short term, it continues to raise questions about whether Ruben Amorim is leaving himself a little light in the middle of the park.
A double pivot of Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte is far from a terrible pairing. That said, we firmly agree with Winter’s point on the former Sporting CP midfielder not being suited to a number 8 role.
Put simply, we look far too easy to play through in the middle of the park. Coupled with how invisible our backline can look at times, that makes for a potentially devastating combination.
Manchester United need to sign an enforcer?
On that basis, United need to find a way to better unlock Fernandes’ talents without compromising on the defensive side of the equation.
Perhaps that means pairing the 31-year-old up with a more all-action, physically domineering operator like Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. Either way, it has to be someone capable of covering large swathes of space and accounting for Bruno’s defensive deficiencies.
Of course, we might have an even bigger problem on our hands anyway if Bruno Fernandes is set to depart in 2026, as has been recently reported.
You pundits should stop covering AMOURIM deficiencies by blaming the players. He now have most of his desired players and yet the same old story. You bought a striker and it took him 4 matches before starting when his other new arrivals has started scorings. You bought a keeper and benched him for the same keeper u complained about. You keep shifting players out of their natural positions.you adamant and proud to change your formations even when u haven’t won EPL games back to back. You have never had a positive goal difference since your arrival, you cried for centre halves, but abandoned them fora player like shaw-a left back.
Like AMOURIM like Raccliffe. U spent months and fortune to get a seasoned sporting director and sacked him weeks later. U abandoned MU women fc and keep sacking the mu staffs.
Promiscuous club wouldn’t have allowed AMOURIM this far. Would someone say that Grimsby fc have better players? AMOURIM is not qualified for MU, neither is Raccliffe nor the GLAZERS.
Man Utd needs total restructuring, and disposing Amourim, Racc and The Glazers is the only remedy to Man UTD problems.
Enough is enough…
Amorim should leave man united straight up, because he is not good enough for man unted. He doesn’t have anything upstairs he’s an amateur coach.
U can never win anything with this Portuguese quartret ! RA is stubborn and not qualified to be a Man Utd manager. Bruno shud be replaced. Buy new players to warm the benches ? Bruno ShawUgarte shud be benched. Tom Heaton a better option between the post. Midfielder overun by City midfield. Amad plays better at RWB. No supply for Sesko and there is no ball possesion game. Stray pass dominating the midfield. RA is daydreaming, he should get the sack.
Formation is problem at man UTD! Sack Amorin bring Fabrigas then introduce
4-3-3
We’ll probably get a shellacking from Chelsea this weekend with Garnacho scoring against us it doesn’t matter who we buy if we don’t use them in the right way but Amorin has completely lost the plot i’d rather watch the U18’s U21′ and the women for a decent game to watch