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Manchester United's struggles to find the back of the net means they sit outside the top ten in the Premier League and have now failed to start their Europa League campaign on the right foot.
They were held to a 1-1 draw at home to FC Twente and the Red Devils have won just three of their eight matches in all competitions this season.
New signing Joshua Zirkzee has shown brilliance in linking the game together, but appears to lack a killer instinct inside the ground while an injury to Rasmus Hoglund has forced Erik ten Hag to rely so far on the former Bologna player.
But the biggest problem weighing on the 20-time Premier League champions is the level of team captain Bruno Fernandes, who has yet to make any impact this season.
Bruno's bad form
The Portuguese is in a lull for the first time in his United career, and despite having the most shots in the league, he has failed to score.
Aside from his inability to find the back of the net, the Portuguese's passing was far from straightforward as his decisions left fans groaning at the Théâtre des Rêves on Wednesday.
He chose to strike from 40 yards in the final minute of extra time rather than try to find a team-mate, which angered fans as losing possession became a regular feature of his game.
The Portugal international is feeling the heat and has repeatedly called for the talisman to be on the bench for the crucial league match against Tottenham Hotspur. But his supervisor is unlikely to let him down, he says Givemesport.
The Dutchman relies on his captain's mentality in big matches to shine in the upcoming big matches before the international break.
“Bruno Fernandes is starting to attract criticism from supporters who believe he should be left out of the starting lineup, but sources close to Manchester United have told GIVEMESPORT that this is unlikely. »
It is unlikely to be abandoned
“Sources believe Ten Hag is close to making a decision on whether to drop him from the starting lineup. We don't really know when the second player will arrive, as pressure is mounting, but Ten Hag is unlikely to risk upsetting their captain during major events.
Many will say that the manager had no hesitation in dropping Marcus Rashford, despite the Mancunian's strong form, so why should he not hesitate to leave out the 30-year-old.
Fernandes' departure comes at the worst possible time for Ten Hag, with pressure on him increasing as rumors continue about his future.
Links with managers continue to emerge as former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's comments add fuel to the fire. He needs a result on Sunday otherwise INEOS may be forced to make a decision before the international break.
Image starring Michael Regan via Getty Pictures
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