Ruben Amorim hoped to return Manchester United to the top, but his reluctance to adapt tactically ultimately proved his undoing. Although he possessed a clear blueprint, the squad at his disposal simply could not execute it with precision.
Amorim was stubborn
For many, the Portuguese tactician ought to have compromised, tailoring a system more suited to the players available. He needed to field them in their best positions, grind out results in the meantime, and lobby INEOS to equip him with personnel truly fit for his system.
From these tactical debates, one player in particular felt limited by Amorim’s decisions: Bruno Fernandes.
Since he joined, Fernandes has been United’s chief creator; a playmaker with an instinct for goals, whether supplying them or scoring himself. Yet while he should operate closer to the goal, Amorim ended up deploying him deep, moulding him into a deep‑lying playmaker.
This positional shift did not erase the Portuguese magnifico’s influence, but many felt he would have been far more decisive further forward rather than shackled deep.
After Amorim’s dismissal, interim head coach Darren Fletcher and caretaker Michael Carrick made a pivotal change by restoring Fernandes to the No.10 role. This move quickly began to yield positive results.
In three appearances in that position, Fernandes has rejuvenated United’s attacking play, registering three assists and sparking fresh creativity.
🇵🇹🪄 Bruno Fernandes vs Premier League Midfielders
🥇 Assists – 1st
🥇 Expected assists – 1st
🥇 Shot assists – 1st
🥇 Key passes – 1st
🥇 Goals + assists – 1st
🥇 NPG+A – 1st
🥇 Shots – 1st
🥇 Expected goals – 1st
🥇 xG + xA – 1st
🥇 npxG + xA – 1st
🥇 Through passes completed… https://t.co/2UvSX8jxZj pic.twitter.com/6gtiT52y4f— DataMB (@DataMB_) January 24, 2026
And now Benjamin Sesko believes his captain’s return to the No.10 role is a game‑changing tactical tweak.
Sesko: Bruno is the perfect 10 for me
Speaking to Arena Sport Slovenia, the striker admitted:
“Playing with him as a No.10 is a wonderful thing because he’s an amazing and exceptional player.
“You realise that he makes passes that not everyone is capable of producing. “I particularly enjoyed my first goal against Burnley because I knew he was the player capable of delivering the ball in that way, and in many other situations.
“So I’m happy with his move to this position and the passes it provides me.”
Sesko is right to celebrate Fernandes as a No.10; he is likely to be the biggest beneficiary of this tactical shift.
Previously, under Amorim’s system, Sesko often struggled for service, even when United managed to score. Too frequently, he was left isolated, feeding off scraps.
With Fernandes restored to the playmaker’s role, Sesko’s fortunes should change. He now looks set to thrive on the flood of chances United’s No.8 creates with ease.
Attention now turns to Arsenal. Will Sesko start?
Having been dropped to the bench in the victory over Manchester City, many wonder whether Carrick will recall him to the starting XI. The decision to leave him out was bold, especially given he was on a run of two goals in two games, but it paid off.
Now all eyes are on whether the striker returns to the line‑up, and if he does, who makes way for the Sesko‑Fernandes link‑up that promises to be box‑office.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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