Carlos Fernandes' new Manchester United tactic could pose a transfer conundrum this summer

Ruben Amorim wasn't the only Manchester United coach to experience a baptism of fire after arriving at Old Trafford in November. The head coach has been front and centre of the early difficulties of his reign at Old Trafford, but his assistant soon realised how harsh the spotlight was at the club as well.

Amorim handed Carlos Fernandes responsibilities for set-pieces, a long-running practice since they started working together at Casa Pia. However, when United started shipping goals from corners and free-kicks, Fernandes was criticised, especially as he had taken over these duties from set-piece specialist Andreas Georgson.

Amorim had to come out to bat for his 30-year-old assistant after a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford in December, when the opposition again exploited a weakness at set-pieces.

“The responsibility of everything is me, is not Carlos, it’s on me,” Amorim said. “We are a team, we are a team in good moments and bad moments.

“We have a way of doing things, we are working on that and we are going to improve on that also but we didn’t lose because of set pieces."

At that point, the heat was on Fernandes. Every time United had an attacking or defensive set piece, he would swap places with Amorim and stand in the technical area, making sure the structure was in place and people knew their jobs.

But just as Amorim has found the pressure easing in recent weeks, so has Fernandes. United have tightened up from set-pieces and started to threaten at the other end. The Old Trafford win against Ipswich was decided entirely by set-pieces, and the winner against Leicester City in the FA Cup also came from a free-kick.

That has allowed Fernandes to start expanding United's repertoire. Although free-kick and