Bruno Fernandes played a major part in keeping Manchester United some semblance of a watchable product this past season, but looking across Europe his total minutes further highlight the club's over-reliance on the Portuguese captain.
The Man Utd captain made 56 appearances for the club this past season. He captained the side in every Europa League game except a league phase match away to Fenerbahçe during which he was suspended.
In the Premier League, he was captain in 35 of the 36 appearances he made. The only games he missed were Newcastle United and Wolves at home plus Brentford away. He was not named to the squad in the Dec. 30 fixture against the Magpies, came on as a substitute against Wolves and was on the bench against the Bees.
Fernandes leads all players in Europe's top five leagues (England, France, Italy, Germany and Spain) in minutes played. While the statistic showcases his availability and reliability, it also could foreshadow potential injuries or fatigue throughout upcoming seasons.






