Ruben Amorim’s decision to substitute captain Bruno Fernandes during Manchester United’s 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest has raised eyebrows.
The match, which saw United suffer their second loss in a week, ended with the visitors claiming a deserved victory at Old Trafford on Saturday night.
The game was evenly poised at halftime, but things quickly unraveled for United after the break.
A loose pass from Fernandes allowed Forest to break forward, with Andre Onana failing to stop Morgan Gibbs-White’s shot, putting Forest ahead.
Eight minutes later, Chris Wood added another for the visitors, leaving United with a mountain to climb.
Fernandes responded with a spectacular goal on the hour mark, capitalizing on Amad Diallo’s brilliant run and pass to score from the edge of the box.
However, despite his impressive contribution, Fernandes was substituted just 15 minutes later while United were still chasing an equalizer.
Amorim’s Explanation for Substitution
Amorim, who has emphasized squad rotation since taking over at Old Trafford, explained his decision to take off his star player. Speaking to Sky Sports, Amorim said,
“Bruno was too tired. I wanted Mason Mount to play in that second midfield position on the left to combine with Josh [Zirkzee] and Rasmus [Hojlund].”
The coach also admitted that Fernandes had been showing signs of fatigue, following a similar admission after United’s loss to Arsenal earlier in the week.
United’s Struggles Continue
The defeat leaves United languishing in 13th place in the Premier League standings, and their upcoming fixtures offer little relief.
Next Sunday, they face a tough trip to Manchester City, a match that will test their resilience further.
Despite the team’s struggles, striker Rasmus Hojlund remains hopeful. Speaking after the game, he noted, “It’s annoying to concede goals, especially from corners. We need to improve, and we will, but we must stay positive. There’s still a lot of games left.”
Fernandes Subbed After Key Goal
Though Fernandes had been pivotal in pulling one back for United, Amorim’s decision to substitute him proved controversial.
With mounting defensive issues, United’s inability to recover from a 2-1 deficit and their lack of cohesion at set pieces continues to be a major concern as they face a challenging December schedule.