Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has said it is “impossible” to directly replace captain Bruno Fernandes, who will miss the upcoming match against Newcastle United due to a muscle injury.
Fernandes was substituted during last weekend’s game against Aston Villa. While Amorim did not give a specific return date, he confirmed the midfielder will not be available for the Boxing Day fixture.
Amorim explained that while Fernandes cannot be replaced by a single player, his absence presents an opportunity for others in the squad to take on more responsibility.
“It’s impossible to replace Bruno,” Amorim stated. “But I told the team this morning that we must see a positive side, and that is many people now need to step up.”
“It’s not just about creating chances. He organizes the team on every set-piece, so this is a good chance for everyone to realize we cannot rely on one player for everything. We have lost several key players for set-pieces, which is a big challenge.”
Amorim mentioned defenders Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw as players who can now show more leadership. In midfield, he pointed to young player Jack Fletcher, who performed well against Aston Villa, as one possible option.
“We have other players, and we may need to try different ways of playing,” Amorim added. “I am confident we can win any game. We have some problems, but I believe in the team. It is more difficult now, but I trust my players.”
These comments follow an interview Fernandes gave last week to Portuguese television, where he said he felt “hurt” and “sad” that the club’s owners had considered selling him in the summer, but lacked the courage to go against the manager’s wishes. He was the subject of a reported £100 million offer from Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.