Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo are undoubtedly Manchester United’s two main men in the attacking sense with the former being the top scorer over the past two years, while the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is the current top scorer for the club this campaign.
Thus far, Ronaldo has 14 goals in all competitions compared to Fernandes' seven, but with the 27-year-old managing to bag four goal contributions in his past two games (two goals, two assists), we've got a bit of taste of how he copes without his compatriot.
Great to be back on the winning track. Same attitude on Saturday. Let’s go! pic.twitter.com/0dTtF1xDLx— Bruno Fernandes (@B_Fernandes8) January 19, 2022
Great to be back on the winning track. Same attitude on Saturday. Let’s go! pic.twitter.com/0dTtF1xDLx
The main difference is how Fernandes scored the two goals in the draw with Aston Villa without Ronaldo, but assisted two with him in the side in the win against Brentford.
In truth, it’s quite clear: he either carries the team with goals when Ronaldo isn’t around or he creates them for forwards like the ex-Juventus man.
The best example of them excelling together is United's Goal of the Month for October when Ronaldo peeled off at the back from an excellent Fernandes ball to which their top scorer smashed in a fabulously-taken volley.
At the same time, there has seemed to be that dependency on the 36-year-old and getting the ball whipped into him at every possible chance.
This has zapped the form of their wingers like Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Mason Greenwood, but then again, he is Ronaldo, and it’s worked more than 800 times in his career to this date.
In total, when played together, Fernandes’ minutes played is 1541 after the Brentford game, and he has only managed to net twice, but register nine assists. This puts him at a ratio of 735 minutes per non-penalty goal, which given his previous record before Ronaldo got to the club, is quite alarming.
On the other hand, when just Fernandes is on the pitch, the Portuguese maestro has played 590 minutes, scored five goals, and bagged just the one assist.
This puts him at a much greater ratio of 118 minutes per non-penalty goal, and it also means he has managed to register a goal contribution every 98.3 minutes without United’s number seven on the field.
The stats are clear, but so is United’s league table position and record with Ronaldo on the pitch. Simply put, they wouldn’t have got through the Champions League group stages without his goals, and following eight goals in the league along with Fernandes’ seven, it would be ludicrous to suggest they can’t play together.
The midfielder is either going to create for Ronaldo, or score in his absence, but ultimately, things are clicking for Ferandnes now and the possibilities for United’s season subsequently become much, much greater.