Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has delivered a stark warning to his former club, declaring they have a 'massive problem' following their 2-1 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa and the loss of captain Bruno Fernandes to injury.
Fernandes Forced Off as Injury Crisis Deepens
The central blow of Sunday's match at Villa Park was the first-half withdrawal of United's skipper and key creative force, Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder, who had made his 17th consecutive league start this season, attempted to play through discomfort in his right leg but was substituted at half-time for Lisandro Martinez.
Manager Ruben Amorim confirmed the setback post-match, stating Fernandes would be ruled out of the Boxing Day clash with Newcastle and is expected to be sidelined for 'a while'. This is a significant blow given the 30-year-old's remarkable fitness record; since joining United in 2020, he has missed only 17 of the club's 325 matches.
His absence exacerbates a severe injury crisis at Old Trafford. The Red Devils are now without eight first-team players, including young star Kobbie Mainoo, who sustained a calf issue. Furthermore, the club's hectic winter schedule is compounded by the Africa Cup of Nations, which has deprived Amorim of Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui.
Schmeichel's Blunt Assessment of United's Issues
Analysing the game for Viaplay, Schmeichel did not hold back in his criticism. He pinpointed the loss of Fernandes as a critical moment. 'That's a problem for Manchester United. It is a problem, it's a massive problem because he is the leader of the team, he's the captain of the team,' the legendary goalkeeper stated.
Schmeichel argued that Fernandes has been United's 'best performer for the last many years' and is being played out of position, suggesting the system does not utilise him as a traditional No. 10 where he excels. He also turned his focus to the defensive errors that cost United the game, specifically criticising young defender Leny Yoro for 'reacting instead of anticipating' for both of Morgan Rogers' goals.
The Dane questioned whether Amorim has the right personnel for his preferred tactical approach. 'Deep, deep down, the system doesn't fit the players that Ruben Amorim has,' Schmeichel claimed, adding that the back four is not adequately protected by the midfield and that there appears to be a lack of understanding among the players.
Praise for Villa's Rising Star and a Packed Fixture List
While critical of United, Schmeichel was full of praise for Aston Villa match-winner Morgan Rogers, whose double secured the victory. He highlighted Rogers' comments about accepting harsh criticism from manager Unai Emery as a sign of the player's maturity and drive to improve.
The defeat leaves Manchester United seventh in the table, facing a daunting run of fixtures without their captain and several other key figures. The immediate schedule is relentless:
- Manchester United v Newcastle – December 26 (Premier League)
- Manchester United v Wolves – December 30 (Premier League)
- Leeds v Manchester United – January 4 (Premier League)
- Burnley v Manchester United – January 7 (Premier League)
- Manchester United v Brighton – January 11 (FA Cup)
How Amorim navigates this injury crisis and adapts his system without his talismanic leader will be crucial to United's fortunes over the festive period and beyond.
