Man United are better because they are a Bruno Fernandes team and not a Cristiano Ronaldo.

This week has been a major step forward Manchester UnitedThis might be strange if you only compare the results to the same games last season.

United was also victorious. TottenhamAt home, the team drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge last season. What’s the difference?

Well, it’s pretty much everything. Last season’s win over Tottenham was almost parody of all the arguments against and for. Cristiano RonaldoThe side. United were outplayed by the side, but Ronaldo scored a spectacular hat trick. United were very defensive at Stamford Bridge during the brief time Michael Carrick was in charge. They only scored because of a silly goal. JorginhoError allowing them the freedom to leave a Chelsea set piece. They made nothing else.

This time around, Erik ten Hag’s side were controlled and confident against Tottenham, peppering Hugo Lloris’ goal with shots throughout the first half before winning the game in the second half. They had to be there at the end of the second half, which was a great success. Casemiro header to claim a point at Stamford Bridge, but their opening to the game was again excellent, dominating midfield to such an extent that Graham Potter needed to radically change his formation before half-time to ensure Chelsea weren’t overrun.

The 6-3 defeat at the hands Manchester CityUnited are more defensively strong, conceding only twice in the four games they play (to a long-range). Alex IwobiInstead of their defense being open, they scored a goal and a Jorginho penal. Their pressing was cohesive and prevented Chelsea and Tottenham from playing in midfield.

The midfield is fluid, with the trio quickly breaking through opposition defences. At times they’ve looked like a 4-2-3-1, at times more like a 4-3-3, appearing in both formats against Tottenham in different phases of the game. Fred sat alongside Casemiro to help press Tottenham’s midfield trio but then pushed forward to play alongside Bruno Fernandes — although the Portuguese midfielder always looked to break in behind the opposition defence.

There are dangerous shots from close range and runs behind in an attack. United, despite being a constant threat to their existence, are the most striking aspect of this attack. Jadon Sancho still isn’t at his best, Marcus RashfordIt’s wasteful when you are in front the goal. AntonyWhile he is an excellent player, he is still at the club’s infancy. Manchester United do not excel purely by the individual magic of their attackers. That may happen at a later time.

Fernandes, however, is once again the dominant man on the side.. He scored a great goal in Tottenham’s 2-0 win and also created two good chances at Stamford Bridge for Antony and Rashford. After a year where Fernandes’ prominence was compromised because of the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, this is now his side once again.

Fernandes’ contribution to Manchester United is often overlooked and underappreciated. Upon Fernandes’ arrival in January 2020, Manchester United were a shambolic outfit and the league table from that point is worth a glance. United was 36 points behind eventual title champions LiverpoolAnd only four more than the likes BurnleyAnd Newcastle.

United was transformed from that point on. From Fernandes’ arrival until the end of the campaign, they collected the most points in the league.

They were second to Manchester City in the next season.

This wasn’t all down to Fernandes, of course, and his statistics were boosted by a decent number of penalties. Fernandes recorded 15 goals, assists and 37 points in 14 games his first season. He then had 30 in his second season.

In his first calendar-year at the club, he was awarded the Premier League player the month award four times. For context, that’s only six players (Sergio Aguero). Harry KaneSteven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Rojo, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie) won the award more times than four times. Premier League career.

Fernandes’ impact was extraordinary and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s decision to base the side around Fernandes as a No 10, rather than as a dual No 8 alongside Paul Pogba, was the best of his United tenure.

United signed Ronaldo and the side was no longer based on Fernandes. While he did a good job, the side still suffered. United dropped to sixth place, while in points terms they were 19th. WatfordThey were champions Manchester City.

That’s a simplistic summary, but it tells a story. When The AthleticFernandes was asked earlier in the season if he played well enough with Ronaldo. He gave a diplomatic response.

“Most of my assists last season were for him, so I don’t think (it is a fair criticism),” Fernandes said. “I just had a poor season in terms of my own numbers. I don’t think it is about Cristiano or myself… to play with Cristiano as a No 10 is actually really good because players respect Cristiano so much that it creates more space, as the opponents are afraid of him taking the ball and scoring. They want to mark him and create an overload where he is to mark him.”

And there are examples of Fernandes and Ronaldo combining for goals, as you’d expect of a top-class attacking midfielder and a legendary striker. There’s no personal problem between them, although Fernandes can sometimes seem too deferential, feeling compelled to pass to his more famed team-mate at times.

However, the numbers for this season make interesting reading. Here’s a chart looking at Fernandes’ combined expected goal (xG) and expected assist (xA) numbers for the season so far, alongside information about whether or not Ronaldo played the majority of the game. (For clarity, ‘yes’ indicates he played 62 minutes or more. ‘No’ means he played 32 minutes or less.)

This is a striking pattern. Fernandes was vibrant even during defeat at Brighton, when Ronaldo was left out. BrentfordWhen Ronaldo began. Fernandes was excellent against Ronaldo’s drop against Liverpool. SouthamptonAnd Arsenal.

There were also a few quieter Fernandes demonstrations against Leicesterand Manchester City’s hammering, but the pattern recurs afterward. Fernandes was not very supportive. EvertonWhen Ronaldo was largely behind them, it was Newcastle and Fernandes. Fernandes made a comeback after Ronaldo was left out of the match against Tottenham and Chelsea.

This sample of 11 games is quite small. The pattern is still significant, particularly when the numbers support the eye test.

And to demonstrate that Fernandes’ xG and xA figures haven’t been boosted in “non-Ronaldo” games after Ronaldo’s introduction from the bench, here’s the minutes the two have played together and the xG they have combined for — in other words when one has created a chance for the other.

Fernandes & Ronaldo played 3.75 games each. They have only 0.19xG chances of helping one another.

This is why Fernandes gave Rashford a chance against Tottenham and another against Chelsea that was individually greater than the xG figures between Fernandes, Ronaldo, from 3.75 games.

Ronaldo likes to run for his own ends, and he often fails to score a goal. He often occupies Fernandes’ space rather than helping to drag opponents apart to create space.

While Rashford’s shooting has been patchy, his and Fernandes’ movement has been structured and cohesive. United always have an attacking option between lines and another behind them.

The best example occurred midway through the second half against Tottenham. When Fred receives the ball in midfield, Fernandes is effectively part of a strike duo – him to the right, Rashford to the left.

The crucial part of this move is Fernandes’ look over his shoulder to check Rashford is ready to make a run. Fernandes drops to the left, and Rashford runs into the right channel.

That simple movement causes Spurs’ defence problems — Eric Dier is trying to pass Fernandes on — and now Fred has two excellent options for a forward pass. Rashford could have done better by taking the run in front.

Here’s Rashford’s first goal in the 3-1 win over Arsenal. It’s a similar thing — Fernandes to the right, checking over his shoulder to see Rashford ready to make a run from the left.

Fernandes again plays the ball, but this time his amazing outside-of the-foot ball finds Rashford. Rashford makes another run and scores.

Fernandes is good at finding Rashford’s runs. Here’s a similar situation against Chelsea, with Casemiro slipping the ball onto Fernandes, who then passes in behind for Rashford. Kepa shuts down his first touch.

Importantly, movement is also possible in the opposite direction. The goal was disallowed because of offside. Tottenham’s defence may have stopped playing after Fernandes went too soon. But it’s a good example of Rashford coming short and arrowing the ball in for Fernandes to go through on goal.

Fernandes’ volley against Southampton earlier this season is also worth mentioning — a completely different situation, as he converted a deep Diogo Dalot cross. But again, in the build-up, we can only see the back of Fernandes’ head as he sees Rashford’s run and knows to hang back and wait for the space to open up.

Based on his performances at Manchester United, Fernandes is known for being an individualist. There are some valid criticisms. Fernandes has been accused of trying too many killer balls early on. He was too ambitious, however, because there wasn’t any real structure under Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. In the attacking phase, players were left to their own devices and Fernandes did it better than anyone.

It’s a different story under Ten Hag. Fernandes must think about the structure and his responsibilities. At times he’s a No 8, at times a No 10, and at times a runner in behind. But that suits his skill set and his obvious awareness of what is unfolding around him suggests he’s capable of functioning in this system. It is notable that he’s barely missed a minute this season, only being substituted in stoppage time on the opening day.

Ten Hag won’t entirely base his side around a single player — that goes against his philosophy and partly explains why Ronaldo has been on the fringes — so Fernandes isn’t in the free role he enjoyed under Solskjaer. But he’s the key player in Manchester United’s revival and the biggest winner from what everyone must surely now acknowledge:  United play better without Ronaldo.

(Top photo: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)