Bruno Fernandes is getting ‘frustrated’ at Manchester United because he is a ‘level above’ all the players around him, talkSPORT has been told.
Fernandes has unquestionably been United’s best player this season with 22 goals and 12 assists in all competitions.
Against the so-called ‘big six’ this season, he’s managed just one goal in seven games.
Invariably, when Fernandes doesn’t play well, Man United don’t play well.
In their 0-0 draw with Chelsea at the weekend, he lost possession 20 times, was dribbled past four times and created just one chance.
The Portuguese international also failed to inspire the Red Devils to a win against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.
And former Premier League striker Ashton has explained why the Portugal playmaker has cut a frustrated figure on the pitch in recent weeks.
He told talkSPORT: “I think his body language has been really interesting in the last month I feel like I’ve really noticed it.
“When there’s a pass he’s played isn’t controlled properly or a pass isn’t given to him in the right area. Or even a pass given to a teammate on an attack that’s not good enough, he turns away in disgust and throws his arms up in the air.
“He’s getting frustrated with the players around him. Personally, I think it’s because he’s on another level to the other players, maybe Rashford not included.
“I would say he’s at another level to players and they’re not there with him.
“If you’re a Chelsea, Liverpool or Man City then you target Fernandes. You make sure you cut off the channels to him, you get tight to him as you know if you get tight to him you pretty much nullify Manchester United.
“Rashford is not the same if Bruno Fernandes isn’t getting the ball as much. Bruno Fernandes has been the one who spots the runs really early of Rashford and has been slipping him in the sides of full-backs.
“He needs better players around him to thrive in the big games.
“If you put Kevin De Bruyne in that team then he wouldn’t be the same. If you target Kevin De Bruyne with Man City then Gundogan is free. If you target him then Mahrez is free.
“There’s just so much talent in and around their best players at City. It’s not like that at United.
“You can’t tell me that Fred, McTominay, Greenwood, Martial, they’re not at the same level as the City players in and around De Bruyne as Fernandes has got at Manchester United.
“That’s the difference. In big, big games, against the elite, if the players around you aren’t up to the level and teams can target you as a player then it’s very difficult to be dominant.”