Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim believes that Bruno Fernandes is “impossible to replace” after the Portuguese midfielder was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Fernandes suffered a hamstring injury late in the first half of Utd’s 2-1 Premier League defeat at Aston Villa and is now sidelined for the festive period, which has left Amorim with a tricky task of filling Fernandes’ midfield role such is the 31-year-old’s impact.
Speaking to manutd.com ahead of Utd’s Boxing Day clash at home to Newcastle United at Old Trafford, Amorim admitted that Fernandes is a difficult player to replace, but iterated that his absence is a chance for other midfielders to step up and show their worth at the club.
“I think it’s impossible to replace Bruno, but I say that in this morning to the team. I think we need to take the good thing, if there is a good thing on that a lot of people need to step up. And if you see, it’s not just the creation, but every set piece, he’s the guy that is organising sometimes the team.
“And that is a good opportunity for everyone to step up and to understand that we cannot rely on one player for everything. And sometimes we rely on Bruno in the organisation, in the creation. We lost Bruno on set pieces.
Utd are also without Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo who are at Africa Cup of Nations, but Amorim believes that their absences alongside Fernandes’ injury will mark a chance for other players to demonstrate their leadership qualities.
“We lost Bryan and Amad on set pieces. So, this is massive for the team, but it’s an opportunity for other players to step up and to show the leadership that we need in the team.”
Amorim proceeded to speak of Fernandes’ leadership skills but expects Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw to be amongst those stepping up in his absence.
“Everything. Everything. Because, again, he understands every position on the field. He pays attention to every detail. Every set piece, when you have a substitution, he’s always the guy that is telling the other guys where they should be.
“But that is a very good opportunity for guys like Licha, Luke Shaw, all these guys. We need to step up to have more leaders in the group because this can happen to Bruno. It’s not usual, but this can happen. So, it’s a big opportunity for the other guys.
Martinez replaced Fernandes at half time at Villa Park but Amorim previously iterated that was an emergency measure scenario rather than a long-term alternative strategy, but explained that debutant – Jack Fletcher could receive more opportunities to fill Fernandes’ position in coming games.
“We have other players. We need maybe [to] try to see different ways of playing. I think Jack Fletcher did a very good job and that’s why when we have this opportunity, we need to give space to guys like Jack and the other ones. So, we’ll find solutions to play.”
Fletcher wasn’t the only Utd debutant against Villa as Shea Lacey also made his senior bow, with Amorim left impressed at their mature reactions since their first appearances in the first team squad.
“Normal, they are normal. They are good kids. The behaviour that they have showed during these weeks is really good. But I don’t have that feeling that they were a little bit different because, ‘I played for Manchester United’.
“No, they are really focused and they are preparing the game, and they believe that they can play. That is a good feeling. So, nothing different that I saw in the last few weeks.”
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