He won’t be starting till further notice…He must clearly improve to included in the squad again”: Erik ten Hag finally bows to fans pressure, removed big name player from the squad till further notice
Manchester United had been showing improvement recently, but Erik ten Hag’s team stumbled again with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday night. This result might force the manager to make tough decisions regarding his squad selection.
Fans were already disappointed following a 3-0 loss to arch-rivals Liverpool before the international break. Despite big wins against Southampton in the league and Barnsley in the EFL Cup, which seemed to signal a turnaround, the lackluster performance on Saturday shows United still have much to do if they want to secure a top-four finish this season.
Although United controlled the game and had more shots on goal than Palace, supporters have been critical of one player’s performance.
### Ten Hag Must Make a Decision About Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes struggled to make an impact at Selhurst Park. Despite signing a new long-term contract with the club earlier this summer, the captain has been out of form this season, and his performance against Palace was emblematic of his recent struggles. Ten Hag may need to make changes to reignite the team.
According to Sofascore, Fernandes lost possession 34 times during his 94 minutes on the pitch, a statistic that could have cost United dearly. In comparison, Amad Diallo had the second-highest number of turnovers, losing the ball 19 times.
Late in the game, Fernandes had a chance to redeem himself with a free kick, but his delivery was easily cleared by the Palace defense. Additionally, his passing accuracy was only 72%, the lowest of any player on the field, raising further concerns about his recent form.Erik ten Hag faces a challenging decision regarding Bruno Fernandes’ role in the team after a frustrating 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace. Despite Manchester United’s dominance in possession and chances, Fernandes’ struggles were a focal point. Losing possession 34 times and recording the lowest passing accuracy on the pitch (72%) reflect his ongoing dip in form this season. With fans growing critical and the team aiming for a top-four finish, Ten Hag may need to consider squad adjustments, especially with tougher fixtures ahead. This comes amid growing concerns about Fernandes’ leadership and influence after a similar underperformance in the 3-0 loss to Liverpool.
