(CNN)There hasn’t been much to shout about at Manchester United in recent years.
Success under legendary manager Alex Ferguson feels like a distant memory for a global fanbase who have watched their once-great club lurch from one bad decision to the next.
An FA Cup win in 2016 under Louis van Gaal and the Europa League win under Jose Mourinho in 2017 were two of the highlights of what has been an uninspiring period since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 – and a far cry from the 38 trophies the Scot has won in his 26 years at the club.
The future didn’t look much brighter in January. The club, now managed by former player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, found themselves fifth in the table at New Year’s.
The football was bad, the atmosphere poisoned and star Paul Pogba, once seen as a saving grace, appeared ready to leave as soon as possible.
But, fast-forward seven months and there are now signs of new life under Solskjaer, especially since the arrival of one Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese playmaker arrived at Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon in January and was thrown into a team lacking in creativity, quality and leadership.
Luckily for his new hires, Fernandes seems to have all three of those traits in abundance.
United have not lost a league game since making their debut earlier in the year, rising to third in the table and qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2018/19 season. It was a remarkable achievement considering the club started the season with their worst start to a league season in 33 years.
What’s more, Fernandes brought excitement back to the Manchester red half after years of uninspiring and often sad performances.
His eight league goals and seven assists show what kind of player United now have in their hands.
“He [Fernandes] told me from the league how intense it is to play in this league,” Porto star Danilo Pereira told CNN Sport.
“It’s no surprise to me to see the impact he’s had in Manchester. I think United can go back to their golden years with him, Pogba and other players.”
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“A really, really good signing”
If there is such a thing as a typical Manchester United player, it would certainly be Fernandes.
The attacking midfielder is risk-taking, exciting to look at and able to handle the extreme pressure at one of the biggest clubs in the world. It became an instant hit.
He was a leader from day one; He has scored (and scored) six penalties during his short tenure at the club, including the crucial penalty against Leicester City that helped United on their way to the Champions League next season.
Ex-players and pundits alike have admired his performances since he moved to England, where he has won Man of the Match awards in almost every game he has played in.
“You can see he has the talent and he’s not scared. He wants the ball, which I would expect from a very good player,” former Premier League star and current Monaco player Cesc Fabregas told CNN Sport.
“But what I like is that he moves intelligently on the pitch. He knows when to get between the lines. He knows when to go into the room when he sees someone available to make a chip. He comes off second line fantastic.
“He supports the midfield when they build up and fight a bit and when the teams put a lot of pressure on them.
“He can play long, he can play short, small passes. He has the personality to take free-kicks and penalties. He’s not afraid. He doesn’t hide. I think Man United made a really good choice. A really good signing .” .”
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Immediate effect
Adapting to the Premier League is no easy task. It usually takes players time to adjust to the physicality and fast pace of the league, but for Fernandes it wasn’t a stumbling block.
Although his performances in Portugal gave a hint of what was to come, such an immediate impact surprised many.
“They looked at the player at Sporting Lisbon and he was clearly someone who scored a lot and scored a lot, but it’s always a challenge if they can transfer that to a better league and to a new club,” he said British journalist Richard Jolly told CNN Sport, adding that he sees no realistic way for United to finish in the top four without Fernandes.
“But he was a transformative player and a revelation in terms of how quickly he got there, I mean it really was from day one.
“You look at both goals and assists and they’re fantastic. If you’ve been able to maintain that form throughout the season, that’s an incredible player.”
Pogba improvement
While his individual brilliance is evident, the arrival of Fernandes has seen the upward trend in the form of the players around him.
The attacking trio of Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford scored at will after football returned from lockdown (the team have scored 22 goals in their last nine league games) and the likes of Pogba and Nemanja Matic looked more stable in midfield .
Pogba in particular is a different player than one who has seemingly been under pressure to be the biggest star on the starting line-up.
The Frenchman’s relationship with the club looked to have hit rock bottom earlier this season, with constant rumors linking the midfielder with a move away from the club.
Fans were also frustrated with Pogba for spending much of the season on the treatment table after suffering two ankle injuries. When they saw him on the field, he was often overwhelmed.
But now, since he has returned from his latest post-lockdown injury, there are early signs that a partnership with Fernandes could flourish and the World Cup winner is suddenly looking more comfortable.
“I think Pogba likes to be surrounded by big players and big characters. I don’t think he wants to be the only big name there and take all the pressure off of him,” Jolly said.
“I think he probably doesn’t want to be in a midfield where he’s surrounded by mediocrity. I think you’ve already seen signs of a bit of chemistry between Pogba and Fernandes, which helps, but I think he also just appreciates the element that he’s playing with other high-quality players around him.”
The new canton?
Fernandes had been linked with a move to Old Trafford in 2019 and there was disappointment when the deal was not finalized in time for the new season.
When the transfer went through the line for an initial $61million (£47million) in January, fans were ready to see what all the fuss was about. It’s safe to say they weren’t disappointed.
Mark Goldbridgea United supporter and presenter of the fan channel The United StandHe can’t wait to see how the team develops.
“I compare it to what Eric Cantona did when he joined Manchester United from Leeds [in 1992] and we won our first Premier League title,” he said. “That was, so to speak, the starting signal for a real success.
“Well I’m not saying Bruno Fernandes will lead Manchester United to the same level of success as Cantona, but he’s not just a player who comes in and makes us great.
“It’s a player who came in and made everyone else around him better.”
It’s easy to forget that Fernandes has only been at the club for a few months, but he has already established himself as a firm fan favorite – with one particular moment in a game against local rivals Manchester City defining his short stint at the club.
Fernandes got caught in a sideline feud with Pep Guardiola, resulting in the Portuguese player putting his finger to his lips and silencing the City manager.
“I think Bruno came on in a very short time and really understood what Manchester United is about,” said Goldbridge.
“Ultimately, there is a fine line between understanding what Manchester United is about and being someone who loves the game, wants to play the game the right way and is passionate about winning.
“I remember his little argument with Pep when we played Man City and the fans loved that because I think Fernandes just wants to win.”
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Another fake dawn?
As United’s form faltered in the final two games of the season, supporters will hold onto these encouraging signs of life and hope this isn’t yet another false dawn at the club.
Third place, while not worthy of the club’s true ambition, must be seen as progress and attention can now turn to winning the Europa League, which resumes on August 5.
United face an easy task in Wednesday’s second leg against LASK, leading 5-0 from the first leg and all but certain of a place in the quarters.
While winning European football’s second-tier club cup competition is nothing to scoff at, the real prize is still the Premier League.
Despite all the improvements the club has seen in recent weeks, the gulf between him and Liverpool and Manchester City remains wide – he finished this season 33 points behind eventual champions Liverpool.
A productive summer in the transfer market could be just what United need and Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho is just one of the names to be linked with a move to Old Trafford.
There have been signs of success during both Van Gaal and Mourinho’s time at the club, but something feels different at United under Solskjaer.
Perhaps a return to its glory days isn’t too far off.
“It’s looking more sustainable and one of the things they’re doing is not only are they beating teams, but if you look at that winning streak, they’ve won quite a few of those games comfortably and quite emphatically, quite entertaining,” Jolly said .
“I think what you might see next year isn’t necessarily United winning the league, but they’re getting in the top four much more comfortably.”
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