Many MU fans often criticize Bruno Fernandes, every time he makes a wrong pass. But they do not know that they have a “rare thing” in the Premier League.
One-touch passing is a difficult skill in football, because it requires technique, playing skills, sensitivity, observation… of the player. Legend Johan Cruyff once said: “The pinnacle of technique is passing the ball with one touch, at the right speed, to the right foot of a teammate”.
Fernandes’ above-average one-touch pass rate shows that he is United’s key creative force, always looking to move the ball quickly and create chances. Former coach Erik Ten Hag once called him a “genius in the final pass”, but he also admitted that it is not easy.
“It requires a lot. First of all, intelligence. But also character to keep trying even when you fail many times,” said the Dutchman.
Fernandes is doing things differently
One-touch passes are not always a reflection of a player’s quality. Before round 28 of the Premier League, Fernandes led the league with 470 one-touch passes. But to say that Southampton’s Jan Bednarek (who ranked fifth in the number of one-touch passes) is also a top creative player would be a mistake.
Many players tend to play one-touch passes not to break through the opposition defence, but simply to maintain possession. The players who top this list are usually deep-lying midfielders, such as Jorginho, Oliver Norwood, James Ward-Prowse, Pascal Gross and Rodri.
But when it comes to one-touch passes in attacking areas, it’s the truly creative players who stand out. Over the last six seasons, Fernandes (twice), Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Eden Hazard and Trent Alexander-Arnold have topped the list for one-touch passes in the final third.
So why does Fernandes top a statistic that is usually reserved for deep-lying midfielders? The answer is probably because he plays one-touch passes from all over the pitch.
The data shows that Fernandes is a dynamic player, not only prominent in attacking areas, but also leading the way in terms of one-touch passes in midfield. Remember in this area, losing the ball can pose a big risk to the home team’s defense.
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