Manchester United wouldn’t be in Premier League top four without Bruno Fernandes and club rely on him like Chelsea and Eden Hazard

“No Bruno, no party!”

Where would Manchester United be without their midfield talisman? Definitely not second in the Premier League and not even in the top four, according to talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy.

Bruno Fernandes added to his astonishing stats as they tore apart Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 clash.

He scored the Red Devils’ first two goals, while strikes from Marcus Rashford and Daniel James sealed the 4-0 rout in Turin.

Former Ireland midfielder Matt Holland picked out Rashford as Man United’s most important performer on commentary with talkSPORT 2, however, Cundy is in no doubt that Fernandes is still the star man at Old Trafford.

But he believes Fernandes is indispensable to his side and worries for them if the 26-year-old was to have a lengthy absence.

He said in the Sports Bar: “If Bruno doesn’t turn up, United don’t turn up… he’s such a good player and he drives them forward.

“You worry for United. If there was to be five/six games where maybe picks up an injury, a suspension or even a lack of form… over the last 12 months he’s been astonishing, probably the most consistent player in the Premier League.  United aren’t that great without him.”

Cundy went onto say how Man United’s reliance on the fantastic Fernandes reminds him of when Eden Hazard was at Chelsea.

Hazard was Chelsea’s star player for a number of years before completing a big-money move to Real Madrid in 2019, and Cundy believes Man United are falling into the same trap of becoming dependent on one man.

He added: “Kevin De Bruyne has just come out of Manchester City, you wouldn’t know it. If Bruno is out of the United side for the same length of time, United feel it. That’s the point I’m making, They’re so reliant.

“They wouldn’t be in the top four without him.

“I’ve seen it at my club with Eden Hazard. No Eden Hazard, no party. We were so reliant on him that it was literally keep the ball as long as we can and give it to Eden and he would do something – he’d give you a goal.

“You can’t keep coming to Bruno and say, ‘go on please, give us another goal’, he got the equaliser against West Brom so you need someone else to come up but it doesn’t happen.

“He’s literally dragged them to second in the table, they are not the second best side in the country… no Bruno, no party!”