"Step up": Fernandes picks four Man Utd stars to win Player of the Year award next season

Manchester United have had a dismal Premier League campaign and they have accumulated just 39 points from 36 matches.

The club could still end the season on a high note by winning the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur at San Mames next week.

A victory will guarantee silverware and a Champions League berth next term.

Ahead of the final, Bruno Fernandes spoke with CBS Sports. The club captain covered several topics including the Player of the Year award.

The Portuguese highlighted that he wants his teammates to win the accolade next season even though he continues to perform at his highest level.

The 30-year-old mentioned Joshua Zirkzee, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo as possible candidates for the annual prize.

He said: “The main thing I want… and I was even joking with Josh [Zirkzee] the other day, we were talking about the awards and they were saying like, ‘oh, who’s gonna win the award of Player of the Season?’, they were kind of putting a joke.

“And I said that I hope next year I am not even involved in the name – and do the same season as I did this year, and not be involved in the name of winning that trophy.

“Because that will mean you [Zirkzee] step up, Amad will step up, Garnacho will step up, Rasmus will step up… if they start scoring goals, start doing assists, start running backwards and tackling, they will be the ones having attention and not me, and I will be the most happy person in the world.

“I’m there to help my teammates get the best out of them and that’s all I want to do because I know as soon as I can get the best out of them, my team will be much better.”

Fernandes showcases his credentials as a leader

Fernandes had a slightly slow start to the campaign by his high standards, but his form has been exceptional during the back end of the season under manager Ruben Amorim.

The playmaker has become more creative under the Portuguese tactician despite starting several games from a deeper number eight position. He is playing some of his best football.

The Portuguese has accumulated 19 goals and 19 assists from 54 appearances. He has answered his critics with his displays and is poised to win the club’s Player of the Year award for a fourth time.

However, as Fernandes said, the rest of the frontline must step up if United want to make progress. Zirkzee, Hojlund, Amad and Garnacho could have a big 2025/26 season at the Red Devils.

Fernandes has regularly shown that he is a team player and a genuine leader. His comments yesterday clearly suggest that he wants the best for the club rather than focusing on himself.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

Article written by Sri Aswin .