Manchester United fans were unanimous in their belief that a particular player needed to be substituted after a dismal performance in the latest match against Aston Villa. The frustration had been building for weeks, as United’s form had spiraled downward, and this encounter at Villa Park seemed to be the tipping point.
The Red Devils arrived at Villa Park on the back of a disheartening four-game winless streak, which had left fans increasingly concerned about the team’s overall performances. A painful loss to Tottenham Hotspur and a bitter 3-3 draw against Porto in the Europa League—despite leading 2-0—had already cast doubts on the squad’s ability to compete at the highest level. In both of these games, Bruno Fernandes, the team’s captain and usually their creative force, was sent off. Although his red card against Spurs was later overturned, his inability to stay on the pitch had raised eyebrows among supporters.
Despite these recent setbacks, Erik ten Hag decided to keep Fernandes in the starting lineup for the match against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa. Unfortunately for the Portuguese midfielder, his poor form continued. He appeared completely out of sorts, repeatedly giving the ball away in dangerous positions and failing to make any significant contributions in attack. It was clear to everyone watching that something was wrong with one of United’s most important players, and the fans were quick to voice their opinions.
Although Fernandes has been a pivotal figure for United since his arrival, some supporters now felt it was time for him to be benched. One fan didn’t hold back, stating, “This is by far the most out-of-form Bruno Fernandes we’ve seen in a United shirt. I would seriously consider bringing Amad on for the second half.” The sentiment echoed through social media, with many fans questioning Ten Hag’s decision to keep Fernandes on the pitch. Another fan sarcastically commented, “Villa’s only good player so far has been Bruno Fernandes,” a brutal assessment of how his mistakes were gifting opportunities to the opposition.
The criticism continued, with another user suggesting that the manager was perhaps too lenient with Fernandes. “Ten Hag is definitely scared of Bruno Fernandes. This is nonsense!” they wrote, implying that the Dutch tactician was hesitant to make tough decisions regarding his captain. Meanwhile, some fans expressed their frustration more directly, with one simply pleading, “Please get Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes OFF the football pitch.”
A final fan summed up the collective frustration by urging Fernandes to take a break from the team for his own sake. “Bruno Fernandes, just bench yourself, bro, just for like a month,” they wrote, acknowledging the need for the midfielder to recharge and rediscover his form.
It was clear that the fans had lost patience, and the calls for Fernandes to be dropped were growing louder. Whether Ten Hag will listen to these demands remains to be seen, but the mounting pressure on both the manager and his star player could lead to significant changes in the lineup as United look to halt their alarmi
ng decline.