Manchester United are seven years without a Premier League title. During this time it has been a story of hiring and firing one manager after another.
Many believed José Mourinho would inspire the club and bring a return to their glory days, but they could only finish second, though they did win a Europa League title.
Once again, the Red Devils are challenging at the top of the table thanks to top players who have joined the club, and are among the outside bets to challenge Manchester City for the 2020/21 Premier League title.
Paul Pogba is showing glimpses of top performances, but Bruno Fernandes arrival from Sporting seems to have rekindled the hopes of Manchester United fans.
After signing for Man United in the January transfer window of 2020, Fernandes hit the ground running. His impact at the club and on teammates became immediately evident.
And with the club rumoured to be mulling a new contract offer for the Portuguese magnifico, here are three reasons he is an inspiration to teammates.
A Proven Leader On-Field and Off-Field
Fernandes has shown glimpses of leadership skills since arriving at Old Trafford. As a player who captained Sporting and always emerged among the top scorers in the Portuguese league, his experience is evident at United.
He has often been seen barking instructions at teammates during a match. Off-field, the player has portrayed a positive image of teammates, including when he downplayed an altercation with Victor Lindelof when the team lost to Seville during a Europa League match.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made the Portuguese captain against PSG in the Champions League, a match the reds devils won.
A Top Player with Winning Mentality
Bruno Fernandes is undoubtedly a top player at the top of his game. He has shown a winning mentality in every match he has played for Man United.
Always contributing to goals, the Portuguese midfielder is now ranked among the best Premier League midfielders such as Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish. For a player who did not cost Manchester United as much as money as Pogba, yet has had more impact on teammates than the French midfielder, Fernandes is inspiring the team.
United players such as Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay and Fred have shown tremendous improvement in the form and winning mentally since the Portuguese arrived at the theatre of dreams.
An Assist King and Top Scorer
The English Premier League has never lacked talent. As the world’s most-watched football league its players enjoy a lot of coverage in world football. Fernandes arrived at Old Trafford from a lower profile league.
While he is not like Cristiano Ronaldo who joined Manchester United from Sporting as a raw talent, Fernandes is already topping charts in English football. He is currently poised to become a top scorer if he maintains the tempo and form.
With 23 games played, Fernandes has found the net 15 times, two goals short of Mohammed Salah who is currently the Premier League’s top scorer after the same number of matches. Harry Kane is closely following in third.
Salah and Kane are proven golden boot winners but it appears Fernandes could challenge them this season.