Man Utd boss Amorim admits Bruno Fernandes 'makes mistakes' after Keane dig

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim believes the club wouldn’t be in its current predicament if they had more players like Bruno Fernandes.

The United captain delivered a standout performance in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford, leading by example.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitted Fernandes was "too clever for us and the referee" in how he subtly adjusted the positioning of his first-half free-kick to improve his chances of scoring. After the match, it was revealed the ball was placed 11.2 yards away from the Arsenal wall—beyond the standard 10-yard distance.

Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given acknowledged the execution but noted the advantage Fernandes gained.

"It was a really good strike, but yes, the wall was too far back," Given told BBC Match of the Day. "Maybe the referee misjudged it, but that extra yard allows Bruno to generate more power."

Despite criticism from some, including former United captain Roy Keane, Amorim wishes he had more players like Fernandes in his squad. "We need more Brunos, that’s clear," Amorim said.

"It’s not just his quality and character—he makes mistakes, but he’s decisive with and without the ball. He steps up in big moments. Sometimes his frustration can get the better of him, but that’s because he wants to win.

"He’s always available, he can play in different positions, and whenever we need a goal or an assist, he delivers."

Fernandes is now United’s top Premier League scorer this season with seven goals, leading the club’s overall tally with 12 across all competitions.

His influence extends beyond just goals. In a struggling United side currently sitting 14th in the table, Fernandes has contributed 14 goal involvements—more than any other player. Only Amad has more than Marcus Rashford’s five, further highlighting the Portuguese midfielder’s importance in keeping United from slipping further down the standings.

Since making his debut in February 2020, Fernandes has been directly involved in 109 Premier League goals—only Mohamed Salah (177) and Son Heung-min (124) have more in that period.

As Amorim works to improve United’s results while making them a more exciting team to watch, Fernandes remains a key figure in both the short and long term.

However, United’s 31.8% possession against Arsenal continued a trend that has been evident since Jose Mourinho’s tenure—their best results often come when playing on the counter-attack.

With fans protesting in large numbers against the club’s ownership, Amorim is eager to change that style of play.

"When you manage Manchester United, you can’t play like that too often," he told Sky Sports. "You have to try to win the game.

"This club will never die—that’s certain. Football is big business, and fans across the league know how difficult it can be to attend games and afford tickets.

"We want to show them effort. In the future, we will not play like this."