The future of the Manchester United captain had already been cast under a cloud following the broadcast of a bombshell interview last Tuesday; now the club is facing the test of figuring out how to cope without him. Fernandes boasts an almost impeccable appearance record throughout his career, so the sight of him limping off the pitch in obvious agony undoubtedly sent a pang of anxiety through the hearts of most Manchester United fans. As the team’s linchpin, losing his creativity and his
knack for snatching victories from the jaws of defeat will be a massive blow for a side that has been prone to inconsistent form.
Diogo Dalot described Fernandes’ potential absence as “hugely impactful”, while manager Rúben Amorim cut a dejected figure when addressing the injury. “I believe it’s a soft tissue injury, so it will require a period of recovery. He has always been physically robust, and we hope he can make a smooth recovery. We’ll have to wait and see. Injuries are sometimes a matter of bad luck or a combination of various factors. Such situations are always beyond our control.”
“We need to find solutions and must not use this as an excuse. We have to get all the available players ready for the next match. No one will remember these difficulties, so we have to deal with it. This will also make us stronger.”
Fernandes rarely misses games through injury, so this will be an unfamiliar experience for him. The fact that he was substituted at half-time suggests that his injury is likely to keep him sidelined for a considerable period. He sustained the knock following a collision with Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana, after which he was unable to continue playing.
It is worth noting that earlier this week, a Portuguese TV interview recorded several weeks ago came to light, in which Fernandes expressed his disappointment with Manchester United’s handling of Al Hilal’s interest in signing him.
