Bruno Fernandes is certainly Manchester United’s talisman at the moment, just like Eric Cantona once was.
The flamboyant Frenchman arrived at Old Trafford in December 1992 and helped the Red Devils win four Premier League titles in his five years at the club.
Portugal international Fernandes arrived less than a year ago and although he hasn’t won anything at his current club, the comparisons with Cantona are very much around.
They actually started a couple of weeks after Fernandes joined and continued as he helped United to a third-placed finish in the Premier League last season. They also reached the semi-finals of the Europa League and FA Cup.
Fernandes himself has dismissed talk likening him to Cantona but his 11 goals and seven assists in 16 Premier League appearances this term will do nothing to silence the comparisons.
But perhaps most impressively, Fernades has helped United climb up the Premier League table and they’re currently level on points with leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.
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So can Fernandes emulate Cantona? Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince isn’t convinced just yet about the 25-year-old.
“The jury’s still out,” he told Sky Sports. “Cantona came into a team who were under pressure to win the title. Manchester United, this year, are not under the pressure to win the title.
“We didn’t expect them to be up there challenging the likes of Liverpool and [Man] City.
“But now the pressure’s on because they feel they can win the title. That’s the mark of a top top player – what he does when it actually matters.
“Listen, I’m not saying that’s going to be the case, he’s certainly got the qualities to do it.”
As part of this analysis, Sky Sports crunched the numbers to compare the impact Fernandes has made at Man United so far with Cantona’s first two Premier League seasons at the club.
Cantona vs Fernandes
Comparing stats of Fernandes and Cantona in first two Premier League seasons at Man United
Cantona appearances: 56
Fernandes appearances: 30
Cantona goals: 27
Fernandes goals: 19
Cantona assists: 23
Fernandes assists: 14
Cantona minutes per goal/assist: 98
Fernandes minutes per goal/assist: 76
Having played nearly twice as many matches, it’s not surprising to see Cantona with more goals and assists than Fernandes but the stats make for interesting reading when you look closely.
Fernandes is scoring and providing assists at a quicker rate as the minutes per goal/assist stats reveal.
Cantona vs Fernandes
Comparing stats of Fernandes and Cantona in first two Premier League seasons at Man United
Man United pre-Cantona (Aug-Dec 1992)
Games: 17 – PPG: 1.6 – Win rate: 41 per cent
Man United with Cantona (Dec 1992-May 1994)
Games: 67 – PPG: 2.2 – Win rate: 66 per cent
Man United pre-Fernandes (Aug 2019-Jan 2020)
Games: 24 – PPG: 1.4 – Win rate: 38 per cent
Man United with Fernandes (Feb 2020-present)
Games: 30 – PPG: 2.2 – Win rate: 63 per cent
As a team, United improved hugely under Cantona and have done under Fernandes – their points-per-game and win rate increasing.
Again though, Fernandes’ numbers are slightly better with United going from 1.4 PPG to 2.2 PPG, compared to going from 1.6 to 2.2 with Cantona.
Cantona improved United’s win rate by 15 per cent but Fernandes has improved it by 25 per cent.
If Fernandes carries on at this rate, the comparisons with Cantona will be a disservice to Man United’s No.18!
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