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Manchester United told they have a player who is way too ‘easy to play against’ after FA Cup loss vs Fulham

Srinivas Sadhanand

Mon 3 March 2025 12:45, UK

Manchester United’s season is well and truly going from bad to worse as they lost to Fulham on penalties in the FA Cup.

Ruben Amorim would have been hoping that his United side go on to win the game after Bruno Fernandes꧟ equalised and cancelled out Calvin Bassey’s opening goal.

But missed penalties from Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirzkee while Fulham converted four out of their four spot-kicks which meant Manchester United lost 4-3 in the penalty shootout.

All eyes are on Ruben Amorim🗹 as United have declined as a side since his appointment.

ဣAmorim was expected to breathe new life into this new Red Devils’ side after Erik ten Hag’s tumultuous spell came to an end.

🦂But now both the former Sporting CP boss and his players are being given stick for what has been an appalling season for a club of Manchester United’s standards.

Bruno Fernandes told he is “easy to play against” after Manchester United vs Fulham

🥀Fernandes, in particular would be disappointed at the nature of United’s defeat against Fulham as he did his all to dig them out of a hole once again. The Manchester United skipper not only scored a well-taken leveller but also dispatched the first penalty past Bernd Leno during the shootout.

꧃Ian Wright expected Fernandes to thrive under Amorim🍷 and his prediction has come true. This season, the Portuguese international has registered 11 goals and 12 assists in all competitions despite being in a poor United side.

ꦓHowever, Stephen Warnock has claimed that as brilliant as Fernandes is with the ball at his feet, he is “easy to play against” due to a lack of defensive effort after reviewing Manchester United’s defeat against Fulham.

💫Warnock said on Sky Sports News: “My big thing with Bruno is, I understand what Roy Keane is saying. All the games that he’s played well in this season that I’ve watched is when they’re down. Well, that’s not brave. Bravery is doing it at 0-0 or when you’re 1-0 down and going to get the ball and closing down and doing it when its the hardest moment in the game where you do have to vacate a position or make a run or do something or go and close someone down.”

🐼“There’s no going away from his numbers, his numbers are incredible. On the ball, the guy is phenomenal, he sees things that other players don’t see on a pitch. But he can also pick out that pass, he can execute that pass, he’s got that quality on the ball when you do need it, he can complete that pass under pressure.”

𝄹“But go the other side of things, would I like to play against him going the other way? Would he track your back? Would he be hard to play against? I don’t think he is hard to play against. I think he’s easy to play against. I think the other side of it, I’d worry if he’s on the ball.”

Bruno Fernandes stats during Man United vs Fulham

👍Fernandes will perhaps not appreciate such criticism from Stephen Warnock, as he dons the armband at Manchester United and is one of their most senior players.

꧋Furthermore, on the pitch, the creative midfielder is often spotted harrying down opponents and displaying his engine from the get-go.

🐠The statistics also reflect just how industrious Fernandes was against Fulham.

🍃Sure, the Manchester United talisman might have lost 10 duels and been dribbled past four times.

🐻But Fernandes also won nine of his duels, made eight defensive actions and 10 recoveries.

﷽While the 30-year-old might not be physically imposing enough to win certain battles on the pitch, the numbers against Fulham prove that this was not down to a lack of work rate from him.