Manchester United duo Bruno Fernandes and Amad have been honoured for their excellent performances last year despite the club’s struggles.
Fernandes and Amad stand out
While the past few years have been tough for United, 2025 was an exceptionally difficult year that the club will want to forget.
Ruben Amorim was named head coach just before the beginning of the year, replacing Erik ten Hag. Amorim endured a tough start to life at Old Trafford as he went about trying to implement his football philosophy.
This decline culminated in a record-low 15th-place Premier League finish, with the team amassing a measly 42 points. There was more pain in store for the Red Devils as they were beaten by Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, completely missing out on European football.
The 2025/26 campaign began in shaky fashion, with damaging defeats to Arsenal, Manchester City, Grimsby Town, and Brentford heaping pressure on manager Amorim. At one stage, his position looked seriously under threat, but the situation was quickly defused after Sir Jim Ratcliffe publicly backed him. There has been a notable improvement in performances and results since.
However, United are still not completely out of the woods. A single loss can reignite a sense of crisis, as the club remains precariously close to disaster.
Yet, despite the ongoing issues, there have been two bright spots through it all: Fernandes and Amad.
Fernandes and Amad recognised
2024/25 was undoubtedly the worst in United’s modern history, but Fernandes still managed to put up an impressive 19 goals and as many assists across all competitions.
Most chances created in the Premier League in 2025: ✨
â—‰ 103 – Bruno Fernandes
â—‰ 86 – Mo Salah
â—‰ 73 – Enzo Fernandez
â—‰ 65 – Declan Rice
â—‰ 65 – Dominik Szoboszlai
â—‰ 65 – Bryan Mbeumo pic.twitter.com/yJb44c6k0n— WhoScored (@WhoScored) January 2, 2026
The Top 10 Highest-rated players of 2025. 🌟🔝 pic.twitter.com/D45qCoJvLT
— WhoScored (@WhoScored) January 2, 2026
He unsurprisingly won United’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards. He has carried his fine form into the ongoing season, currently boasting 12 goal contributions in the top flight.
The lynchpin of the team, Fernandes has often delivered in United’s most desperate moments. This is a commitment he underlined last summer by turning down immense riches from the Saudi Pro League to stay at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Amad delivered 11 goals and 10 assists last term despite missing a sizeable chunk of the campaign through injury.
United’s best attacker, his value is enhanced by his remarkable consistency and tactical versatility. The Ivorian excels both as a number 10 and a wing-back in Amorim’s system.
The pair have been named in WhoScored’s Premier League Team of the Year.
The statisticians named an XI consisting of the highest-rated players across the 2025 calendar year. Only Erling Haaland has a higher rating (7.60) than Fernandes’ 7.39.
Amad is rated at 7.20.
Premier League Team of the Year 🌟
Our highest rated XI across the 2025 calendar year. 👀🔥#TOTY | #PL pic.twitter.com/RZnyfwc1aP
— WhoScored (@WhoScored) January 2, 2026
Fernandes and Amad are currently unavailable to Amorim for selection. Fernandes is recovering from an injury while Amad is away with his country for the Africa Cup of Nations.
United return to action on Sunday when they face Leeds at Elland Road.
Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images
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1 comment
bruno is the reason we lost easy games too!
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