Roy Keane has accused Bruno Fernandes of chasing the Premier League assists record at the expense of Manchester United. The former captain said the current skipper’s public focus on personal numbers makes United “a circus act” and shows the wrong mentality for someone expected to lead a team competing for major trophies.
Fernandes reached 20 assists for the season by setting up Bryan Mbeumo’s winner in United’s 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest. Only Thierry Henry in 2002-03 and Kevin De Bruyne in 2019-20 had previously reached that figure. Fernandes still has an away fixture against Brighton on Sunday, giving a chance to claim the single-season assists record outright.
Keane said his frustration grew after hearing the post-match discussion around Bruno Fernandes and the assists record. On the Overlap, Keane said: “When you’re the captain of a club and you’re supposed to be driving the club forward, do not be getting bogged down by just your role in the team, just assists… What I heard at United at the weekend, honestly, I was raging with it.”
The former midfielder felt the narrative around the Forest game centred too heavily on individual statistics. Keane added: “The whole chat about his assists… Everyone, the players were [talking about it], the game was about his assists. That’s the whole thing. After the game he got interviewed and hethe captain of Manchester Unitedsaid, ‘A few times, I probably should have shot but I made passes.’ Wow.”
Keane argued that such comments reveal a mindset that does not match the demands on a Manchester United captain. He questioned how a leader could allow an individual pursuit to shape decisions in key moments, saying: “How can your mindset be not to win the match but be about an individual record?”
Comparisons with previous record-holders highlight another angle to the debate. Opta data for chance creation is not available for Henry’s 2002-03 season. However, the numbers for Bruno Fernandes in 2023-24 against Kevin De Bruyne in 2019-20 show De Bruyne ahead in several creative metrics across 90 minutes.
The available data shows Fernandes averages 3.99 chances created per 90 minutes, compared with De Bruyne’s 4.37. In open play, Fernandes records 2.87 chances created per 90, while De Bruyne reached 3.35. Expected assists also favour the former Manchester City midfielder, with 0.37 xA per 90 for Fernandes against De Bruyne’s 0.47.
Bruno Fernandes assists record and reaction against Forest
Keane then highlighted Bruno Fernandes’ behaviour when team-mates missed chances against Nottingham Forest. The Irishman felt those reactions underlined that the captain was worrying about personal records rather than the team’s defensive issues, after United conceded twice in a match that still exposed familiar problems without the ball.
Keane continued: “He won’t be winning trophies, not with that mindset. They’re giving up two goals and everyone’s getting all giddy because he’s equalled the record for assists. It’s mind-boggling. It’s a circus act. Bruno gives a pass and they missed. What did Bruno do after he missed it? He went on the floor. Why is he falling? For himself. His striker is having a difficult spell and missed a couple of chances, and he’s thinking of himself.”
With Brighton next on the schedule, Fernandes stands one assist from owning the record outright and remains central to Manchester United’s attacking play. Keane’s remarks place fresh focus on how the captain balances individual targets with team priorities as United continue to chase both results and long-term stability.