3 ways how Bruno Fernandes can improve Manchester United this season

#2 Shooting from distance

Fernandes likes to shoot from distance

The Red Devils have lacked a midfielder with both the habit and the ability to shoot from distance in recent years, even though Paul Pogba has done it on the odd occasions, and Nemanja Matic has managed it once in a blue moon. We have to go all the way back to the Paul Scholes era to find a player who had opponents trembling whenever the ball fell to his feet outside the box.

Everyone knew that the Ginger Prince would unleash a fierce shot and most often than not, it would be on target. That was one of the threats of the United teams of the bygone era. The Red Devils have long needed someone whose eyes lit up whenever he has space and time on the ball at the edge of the box. Incidentally, that is exactly what Fernandes will bring to the team.

The Portuguese managed 5 shots in his debut for United, 3 of which were on target. Fernandes loves shooting from distance – he registered 180 shots in the Portuguese league in the last couple of seasons and 114 of them were from outside the box! To assume that the Portuguese would immediately fill in the shoes of the legendary Scholes after taking over his shirt would be premature, but in his presence, United do have a new kind of threat in the team.

One of the big gaps in Manchester United in the last couple of years has been a consistent goalscoring midfielder, who has the ability to make late runs into the box. Pogba managed it last season but has been crippled with injuries this time. In the Frenchman’s absence, the United attack has often fallen short when presented with an opportunity to from outside the box. Fernandes’ arrival should put an end to that.