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#2 The arrival of Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United have made too many headlines for the wrong reasons in recent years, and with Ole Gunnar Solskjær now moving into the second year of his tenure, he has lasted longer than many of his critics believed he would. The biggest contributing factor in their recent revival has been the signing of Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder has brought a confidence and belief to the home changing room at Old Trafford, and he could be a deciding factor in the club earning a Champions League place.
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It was the surprise Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain last season that ensured Solskjær would take charge of the club on a permanent basis, while it was his heroics as a player in the 1999 final of the competition that elevated him to the position of his previous caretaker role. The Champions League is a defining competition in the history of the club, and it has shaped the careers of individuals like Solskjær who have played a key role in their European success.
Fernandes settled into life at Manchester United from the very first day he arrived. He carries no baggage, and the negative headlines usually reserved for fellow midfielder Paul Pogba have now been replaced with positivity surrounding the exciting new man in the middle. The feel-good factor that has been missing has finally been found through his creative and attacking contribution to the team, and he is the one figure who can inspire the club to reaching the Champions League in a season when their city rivals will be restricted to domestic competition only.
Qualifying for the Champions League will be a pivotal moment for Solskjær in his managerial career at the club, and he has assembled not only a squad that can help him achieve this aim, but also grow into it next season should the opportunity arise. However, balancing the demands of domestic and European competition against the very best of the continent will be his toughest challenge to date, and will decide just how equipped he is to succeed at a club of this magnitude.
