On Saturday afternoon, Manchester United defeated Tottenham 2-0 on match day 25 of the Premier League season, making it four wins in a row, a club first for exactly two years. 

There were several first-class individual performances on the day. The likes of Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo, and Casemiro were brilliant, as were plenty of others on the day. 

One player who stood out above all was Bruno Fernandes, who scored the second goal to settle any nerves inside Old Trafford. He also should have had an assist, but his wonderful ball for Benjamin Sesko in stoppage time could not be converted by the Slovenian. 

That goal he scored, with around nine minutes left, had an even bigger meaning. Indeed, it was the Portuguese international's 200th goal contribution (goals and assists) for United. 

Bearing in mind that last week marked six years to the day that Fernandes made his debut for United, those are incredible numbers. Around 33 goals and assists every year for six years.

Plus, as touched on earlier, the playmaker is unlucky not to have more assists. For example, in the 22/23 Premier League season, he registered eight assists despite creating 32 big chances. With better finishing, he would have a lot more assists to his name. 

This season is another good case study. Whilst Fernandes does lead the way in the Premier League for assists - with 12 - he also leads the way for big chances created, with 17. 

 What a player, truly what a player. Considering how poor United have been in large parts of his Old Trafford career, too. He could have played for most clubs in Europe and not looked out of place.

It's not just Europe that Fernandes could have gone to. He was heavily linked with a move to Al Hilal last summer, and he has even since suggested that the club wanted to sell him, but he decided to stay.

United fans must count their lucky stars every night that he did so. Imagine how things would look without the Portuguese magnifico. Sure, there would have been money there to replace him, but who would have trusted the club to spend that wisely? Particularly with a player as irreplaceable as Fernandes. 

Hopefully, these sorts of numbers will lead to United's number eight finally getting the respect that he deserves, both from the club's fans and from the wider footballing world. 

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