Manchester United finally show ‘the future’ as Bruno Fernandes inspires Europa League progress

Manchester United 4-1 (agg. 5-2) Real Sociedad: Bruno Fernandes hits a hat-trick as Ruben Amorim’s men take a step closer to a final in Bilbao

Even in the week the death warrant for Old Trafford was signed, Manchester United showed there is still life in their season. When they trailed to Real Sociedad, it seemed as though it may be over in March, Old Trafford condemned to a year without European football, perhaps even having staged its last continental game. A comeback later, a Basque club were beaten and United’s hopes of returning to the Champions League via the Basque country were enhanced amid excitement.

It was a cracking night, for the creaking old ground, the young head coach and the captain alike. There are times when it has seemed that Bruno Fernandes is on a one-man crusade to salvage something from United’s season. His evening finished with the prize of the match ball for a hat-trick. His campaign may yet end with him lifting the Europa League trophy in Bilbao in May. “He is a perfect captain for our team and we need to help him win titles,” said manager Ruben Amorim. “When we need it, he is always there.”

Not for the first time, United needed Fernandes. In a game of three penalties – a fourth was awarded but overturned, aided by the sportsmanship of Patrick Dorgu – United conceded the first and Fernandes scored two before finishing off a counterattack. Sociedad remain the last visitors to win at Old Trafford in the Europa League, but at the start of Erik ten Hag’s reign.

In an atmosphere to savour, United produced their best attacking performance under Amorim. Troubled as his introduction to English football has been, United are the only unbeaten side in the Europa League, a record they will take to Lyon in the last eight. For Sociedad, the dream of a final against their rivals Athletic Bilbao ended, finished off by Fernandes.

The Portuguese now has six goals in his last six games. Yet unlike in some of the others, he received plenty of support. United were depleted to such an extent that the teenager Ayden Heaven made his first start; this came closer to being heavenly than many a United game in recent months.

The last men standing kept on running; if Amorim suggested his side should prove their critics, including co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wrong, some of the maligned prospered. The recalled Rasmus Hojlund was powerful and purposeful, bursting behind the Sociedad defence, receiving more service than usual. But his goal drought continued; he angled a shot just wide after a cutback from Joshua Zirkzee, in itself a sign an understanding is belatedly developing. Zirkzee also came close without finding the net; a shot was clawed away, a header angled wide. “Sometimes he needs to think more as a striker [that] ‘I need to score, no matter what,’” said Amorim.

Mikel Oyarzabal of Real Sociedad celebrates scoring (Getty Images)

It was nevertheless a good night for both forwards, just as it was for the wing-back Dorgu, who won the second spot kick and whose running power was too much for Sociedad when the substitute Jon Aramburu was sent off for fouling him. For Dorgu, whose previous outing at Old Trafford brought him a red card, it was a sharp role reversal. “He had a great performance,” said Amorim. “He is learning a lot in that position. He has the physicality.” In younger players performing for a youthful manager, United saw a vision of years to come. And a shift in emphasis. Amorim did not enjoy setting his side up with a low block on Sunday. “Our exhibition against Arsenal was not beautiful but helped us a lot,” he said. And this was a more up-tempo approach, with United further up the pitch. There was more of a throwback feel to a team attacking with abandon.

Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Joshua Zirkzee (Getty)

Like many a United team of the past, they did it the hard way. The two skippers traded spot kicks in the first quarter of an hour and Sociedad, who have lost their last three league games without scoring, struck first.

Matthijs de Ligt clattered into Mikel Oyarzabal. Referee Benoit Bastien needed to review the challenge on the pitchside monitor to see the offence but gave the penalty and the Euro 2024 final scorer sent Andre Onana the wrong way.

United’s stopper Andre Onana celebrates after Bruno Fernandes scores (Getty)

“We react quick,” said Fernandes. United were only behind for six minutes. Even as Alex Remiro made a superb save from Hojlund, the striker was fouled by Igor Zubeldia. Fernandes, who had created the chance, converted the spot kick. He did likewise when Dorgu ran into Aritz Elustondo. Remiro guessed wrong again, Fernandes rolling the penalty past him. It briefly seemed as though he had a third spot kick but Dorgu sportingly told the referee that Hamari Traore did not foul him. “It is the right thing to do so I am quite proud of him but I cannot say if it is 0-0 or losing I have the same response,” smiled Amorim. Fernandes soon had his treble anyway, angling in a shot from Alejandro Garnacho’s pass.

As ever, when United needed inspiration, the captain had obliged. Fernandes set the tone, the positivity of his passing rubbing off. The Portuguese theme was continued when Diogo Dalot delivered United’s fourth after fine work by Dorgu and Hojlund. For only the second time under Amorim, United scored four.

Old Trafford was raucous, crowd and players feeding off each other in a stirring night. There have been times this week when the thought has occurred that United may not fill a 100,000, £2bn stadium, that the experience of watching them may have become too depressing.

Not on this occasion. Old Trafford showed it can still feel special, United that they can resemble the United of old. “This was a different week,” said Amorim. “We deal with problems of the present and we show the future. This game was really good for everybody in the club.”