Gary Neville says Bruno Fernandes is Manchester United’s most successful signing since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club, after the midfielder’s hat-trick helped secure a 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town.
Speaking on a Sky Sports podcast on 30 August, Neville praised Fernandes’ influence, describing him as the player Manchester United rely on most while highlighting the attacking options now available around him.
“He has the courage, the guts, and the belief needed to play for Man United,” Neville said. “His statisticsassists and goalsare excellent. His desire to win, his positive attitude, and his constant willingness to influence and change the game are outstanding.”
Fernandes was the outstanding player after half-time, according to Neville, while Julio Enciso impressed during an entertaining opening period.
“If you divide the game into two parts, the best player in the first half was Enciso, while the best player in the second half was Bruno Fernandes. They are both number 10s,” Neville said.
Newly promoted Ipswich Town began confidently at Old Trafford, rather than adopting the cautious approach Neville had expected. Their defensive line was high and they were willing to build from the back, creating problems for Manchester United in possession and out of it.
Neville said he had anticipated Ipswich using a more conservative system, possibly a 4-5-1 formation, after their promotion from the Championship. Instead, they played positively and created several opportunities.
Leif Davis had a chance to put Ipswich 2-0 ahead, while Enciso threatened when he drove between Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo. Neville was particularly impressed by the forward’s pace and strength over a longer distance.
The match was level at half-time after a mistake by Nunez shortly before the interval allowed Manchester United to respond. Neville said the error lifted the home side and changed the mood before the break.
Manchester United increased the intensity after half-time, pressing Ipswich and making it increasingly difficult for their defenders to cope. Neville felt Ipswich’s eventual switch to a back five came too late, suggesting it might have been needed when the score was still 3-1 or even 4-1.
Despite the defensive concerns, Neville believes Manchester United now possess a formidable group of attacking players.
“Without him, Man United would have very serious problems. But they have him. And around him, there are Rashford, Mbeumo, Cunha, Amad, Sesko, Dorgu, Mount, I’ll include Mount too,” he said.
“They have a group of very good attacking players who can score plenty of goals and create a lot of threats because they are so direct. You wouldn’t want to face any of them.”
Neville added: “I wouldn’t want Amad running at me, I wouldn’t want Rashford running at me, I wouldn’t want Cunha running at me, I wouldn’t want Mbeumo running at me, and I certainly wouldn’t want Bruno feeding them the ball.”
He said the most significant positive from the win was Manchester United’s attacking threat, particularly after they failed to score in their previous match against Hull City despite conceding twice.
The midfield, however, remains a work in progress. Neville believes the two central midfielders do not necessarily need to provide spectacular assists or long-range passes, but must retain possession reliably and protect the defence.
Their task is to supply Fernandes, the forwards and the wide players while shielding the back four. That, Neville said, is why the club signed Baleba, whom he described as the strongest and most defensively capable midfielder in the group.
Manchester United have conceded four goals in their first two games of the new season. Neville warned that the defence remains vulnerable, noting that many of the same defenders conceded 50 goals last season.
Ipswich created enough chances to score two or three times in the first half, despite being unlikely to challenge for a top-half finish. Neville therefore believes Manchester United’s defensive issues require urgent attention.
He said Carrick could benefit from signing one or two defenders before the transfer window closes, possibly a centre-back and a full-back. The suggestion, he stressed, was not simply: “Buy players! Keep buying players! Spend money quickly!”
Manchester United had planned to rebuild their attack last season and improve the midfield this campaign, with defensive investment potentially delayed until next year. Neville questioned whether suitable targets might now be available and whether the club should bring forward that work.
Lewis Hall has been mentioned, although Neville doubts Newcastle would be willing to sell him easily. He also referred to Myles Lewis-Skelly, who can play at left-back or in midfield, as another option worth monitoring.
Lisandro Martinez’s return should improve Manchester United’s composure in possession. Neville highlighted some of the defender’s passing during the match and said his statistical contribution was strong.
The central issue for Carrick, though, is reducing the number of goals Manchester United concede. The team could become more compact by changing the positioning and structure of their attacking players, but Neville cautioned that doing so might reduce the entertainment value that has encouraged support for Carrick’s continued management.
After the 5-2 win, supporters left the stadium in heavy rain having seen Fernandes complete his hat-trick, along with a series of dangerous runs, shots and crosses.
Neville said Manchester United must maintain their progress against Everton in their next match and show greater competitiveness against Manchester City in two weeks.
