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Bruno Fernandes has attributed Michael Carrick's success at Manchester United with the same squad Ruben Amorim had at his disposal to tactical changes and a different selection of players.
United sat sixth in the Premier League when Amorim was let go in early January, just three points adrift of the top four but 11 points behind Aston Villa in third place.
While it wasn't the historically dismal campaign the Portuguese manager had overseen in 2024–25, consistency remained a problem and United had managed only eight wins from 20 league outings. By comparison, Carrick has won seven of his opening 10 games, lifting the Red Devils to third place with a comfortable cushion above fifth and sixth.
Changing the Staple Amorim Formation
"He changed some players, the positions of some players, you try different formations and at the end of the day you start scoring goals," Fernandes told Men in Blazers.
Amorim had been firmly committed to the 3-4-1-2 system that had driven his historic success at Sporting CP, deploying Fernandes as a central midfielder. Caretaker Darren Fletcher scrapped those tactics, and Carrick continued with a return to the more familiar 4-2-3-1 that better suited the available personnel. He also promptly reinstated Kobbie Mainoo, who had not made a Premier League starting appearance in the first half of the season, freeing Fernandes to reclaim his preferred No. 10 position.
It appeared to be a straightforward adjustment, and the captain has been far more influential in an advanced role — so much so that his rapidly growing assist tally could soon threaten the Premier League's single-season record, which stands at 20. Fernandes currently has 16.
"In terms of creating chances we were near the top when Ruben was here but we were not finishing that and then we were probably one of the best teams at not allowing teams in our box but when we did we would concede more goals," he added.
Carrick has also instilled a stronger defensive structure, enabling United to grind out tight victories that had seemed almost unachievable under Amorim.
"We started to be more compact when we have to defend and understand we have moments when we have to suffer when we're not in an excellent moment, let's say," Fernandes offered.
De Gea Highlights Key Carrick Attribute
Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea was asked this week for his thoughts on Carrick's influence, while in England with Fiorentina for the UEFA Conference League quarterfinal first leg against Crystal Palace — La Viola suffered a 3–0 defeat in south London.
De Gea knows Carrick both as a former teammate (2011–2018) and as a coach (2018–2021), and offered what appeared to be a telling insight into how Carrick has unlocked more from the same group that his predecessor struggled with — rooted in his personal understanding of what it means to be a United player, along with the pressures and scrutiny that accompany it. Amorim, by contrast, had a modest playing career as a squad option in Portugal, while Erik ten Hag's footballing frame of reference was largely limited to Dutch soccer.
"He's doing unbelievable," De Gea told TNT Sports. "He's a great guy … he knows how the players feel, so it's easy to talk with him.
"He's doing an amazing job, United is winning a lot of games now. They're playing well and hopefully they can get the Champions League spot, and keep growing. Let's see United again in the high positions and fighting for trophies."
Fernandes 'at Home' in Manchester
As United's form has improved, talk surrounding Fernandes's future at the club has largely died down. The 31-year-old had been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia as recently as last summer and appeared open to departing if the club wished to move him on.
His most recent contract was signed in 2024 and runs until the end of next season, with an option for an additional 12 months — if exercised to extend through to 2028, he would be approaching his 33rd birthday by the time it expires.
Given how things have developed, there seems little appetite on his part to seek a move elsewhere.
Bruno Fernandes 2025–26 Premier League Stats
Fernandes was asked during his Men in Blazers appearance about life in Manchester, having now spent longer in the north west of England than anywhere else during his professional career.
"When you're so long in a place, you feel part of it," he said. "Obviously, I'm very proud of [Portugal] and I love my country, but I feel at home in Manchester. My kids feel at home here, so it's wonderful to be in a place where my kids can enjoy so much and feel as much at home as they do in Manchester.
"I felt Mancunian until I heard my kids speaking with the accent and understand I'm not as much as they are."