Bruno Fernandes played as a left-winger in Portugal’s 1-0 victory over Wales on Thursday, a position that drew criticism from new manager Jorge Jesus despite the Manchester United captain insisting he fulfilled his tactical remit.
Jesus, in his opening game, felt Fernandes could have been sharper with the ball and wanted more from him. “The only difference is that, defensively, he has to drop deeper. He could have been better with the ball. The team needed him more,” Jesus told RTP.
Fernandes, though, was unfazed. He explained that Jesus had asked him to play inside, dropping deep to link play and support the striker rather than stay wide. “The manager asked me for this role in this game,” Fernandes said. “He’s already told me I can play in different positions with him, so for me, the most important thing is that what I do helps the team.”
The 32-year-old, United’s captain and the Premier League’s player of the year last season, has faced repeated positional changes since arriving at Old Trafford in 2020. He thrived as a No. 10 under Michael Carrick but was shifted to midfield and wing roles under Ruben Amorim before Carrick restored him to his preferred role.
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