Man United's Fernandes and the art of the assist as record beckons

MANCHESTER, England, May 1 : Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has never fitted neatly into the idea of a "system" player. 

He bends systems to his will, imposes himself on games and, increasingly, is cementing his place in Premier League history. 

One assist away from the single-season record shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, with four games to go, Fernandes could reach that milestone on Sunday against Liverpool with a familiar mix of urgency, edge and invention.

What sets the Portugal international apart is not simply the volume of chances he creates but the way he creates them. His passing is ambitious, often risky, sometimes infuriating for critics who focus on lost balls rather than decisive ones. 

Yet that willingness to gamble is central to his value.

Fernandes scans early and releases the ball forward before defences are set, turning half spaces into opportunities with disguised passes, clipped crosses and threaded through-balls that reward movement and courage from teammates.

The playmaker, who United teammate Casemiro has described as the "heartbeat" of the side, is having the best season of his career, and the club's interim boss Michael Carrick believes he should be rewarded with the league's Player of the Year award.

"Hopefully he does (win it)," Carrick said after Monday's 2-1 win over Brentford. "He deserves it for the impact he has had and the moments he's created, whether it's creating or scoring or having other influence within the group. He's had a big season."

Fernandes is not a classic number 10 floating above the game. He works furiously without the ball, presses aggressively and repeatedly drops deep to collect possession when United struggle to progress play. 

That blend of high-wire