FERNANDES CAN EXPERIENCE FRUSTRATION
“Last season made it evident; you could see it in his goals and assists. But it’s more than that. I believe he now has more teammates to support him in leading the group, which is certainly a positive. He is our captain and plays a vital role—not only on the pitch but also off it. He sets a great example, working tirelessly and often pushing through pain. However, he can sometimes become frustrated, losing focus on his role. His desire to help his teammates can lead to situations where they need to handle their responsibilities, while Bruno needs to be patient and wait for the ball.”
BRUNO’S ROLE
“He has a specific role for each match, and it’s unrealistic to expect him to fill every position. Last year, there were moments when I felt I had to push him back to enhance our possession during build-up, but that meant we lacked his presence near the box. With different dynamics from players like Bryan [Mbeumo] and Matheus Cunha—and with Kobbie Mainoo showing promise—Bruno should find more support this season. He has incredible stamina, and while he excels in sprints, his running prowess is impressive overall. It’s not about his physicality; whether we use him deeper or as an attacking midfielder, he brings value either way.”
PREPARATIONS FOR THE ARSENAL OPENER?
“It’s a strong squad, and we must prepare all the players effectively. Given the limited weeks and games available for preparation, things can shift quickly. As we observed in the second half, there are players who could feature in the opening match. I haven’t made final decisions yet regarding the lineup.”
