🦁 Premier League Player of the Week: What a way to say goodbye

At the end of the season, we might look back on this weekend as one of the most decisive of the campaign.

And our award for Premier League Player of the Week goes to ...

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Ruud van Nistelrooy's interim spell as Manchester United boss has been nothing but an unqualified success.

The Dutchman replaced Erik ten Hag two weeks ago and since then has gone about transforming the Old Trafford outfit into something approaching their best.

The former striker hasn't done anything particularly revolutionary in his 12 days in charge but has clearly imbued a renewed sense of confidence to the squad and allowed them to play without fear.

That has been event none more so than with Bruno Fernandes, who has returned to his world class self under the tutelage of Van Nistelrooy.

Before the interim's appointment, the Portuguese playmaker had failed to score a single goal in 2024/25 and registered just two assists.

In the last four games Bruno Fernandes has scored four and assisted one.

Two of those came this weekend as Leicester came to a rain-sodden north west and left with nothing.

This was, in what's been something of a rarity this term, a totally regulation win for United in a game they dominated from start to finish.

And it was Bruno Fernandes who ran the game from minute one.

In just the first half alone, the number 10 created four major chances, had 16 passes in the final third and scored one superb goal from the edge of the area.

In the second half he added a penalty that secured the points, taking his total goal-involvement tally for United to 100.

The fact he reached that milestone in 170 games, just one fewer than Cristiano Ronaldo, says everything about how consistently excellent the former Sporting man has been for the club since his arrival in 2020.

It was the perfect way to say goodbye to Van Nistelrooy and with Rúben Amorim now set to join as head coach, their club captain is enjoying his best form in a long time.

📸 PAUL ELLIS - AFP or licensors