Manchester United’s 2025-26 season took a massive turn on January 13. Ruben Amorim left. Michael Carrick arrived. Since then, the team’s tactics have changed completely. Everything now revolves around giving Bruno Fernandes the freedom he needs.

Carrick immediately got rid of Amorim’s rigid setup. That old system usually kept Fernandes stuck in a deeper, more disciplined spot. Instead, the interim boss went back to a 4-2-3-1.

This setup needs a real number 10 to work. You can’t argue with the results. Since Carrick took over, United have won three straight Premier League games. They beat Manchester City 2-0, Arsenal 3-2, and Fulham 3-2. Fernandes ran the show in those matches because he finally had room to move.

The stats from this short run show how much has changed. In just four games under Carrick, Fernandes has five assists. That’s a huge jump compared to his time under Amorim, where he had seven assists in 18 league games. It all comes down to where he stands on the pitch.

“He plays where he thinks. We just facilitate the thinking.” – Michael Carrick, post-match vs. Arsenal (January 25, 2026)

Data from UnitedStats shows Fernandes is playing about 12 meters further...