Ahead of gameweek three, Kevin De Bruyne was asked to rank his favourite creative midfielders to watch in the Premier League.
Out of a choice between Bruno Fernandes, James Maddison and Martin Ødegaard, De Bruyne put his noisy neighbour in top spot.
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“I think he’s a creative machine, in general,” he told Sky Sports’ Saturday Social. “Ødegaard is very creative but a little bit more controlled. Maddison is also really creative but I need to see more of him in a big team.
“He’s [Fernandes] been doing it for such a long time. Ødegaard was amazing last year but obviously he’s younger so that’s a difference.”
The 2023/24 Premier League Stat Leaders after GW3. ? pic.twitter.com/HeUGaum4HS
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Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Belgian knows what he’s talking about.
Bruno Fernandes has created the most Big Chances in the Premier League this season, as well as playing more passes into the opposition box than any other player. United’s captain also tops the Expected Assists chart with 1.83.
Fresh from registering his first assist (and scoring his first goal) against Nottingham Forest, Fernandes faces off with De Bruyne’s No.2 pick at the Emirates this weekend.
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On top of his league-leading stats, Fernandes has created more chances (10 vs. 2), attempted more shots (13 vs. 9) and even made more tackles (10 vs. 9) than Martin Ødegaard after the first three games this season.
Who will come out on top this weekend? We don’t have to wait long to find out.