The hopes of rescuing something from this troubled campaign now rest on the UEFA Europa League. Thanks to the club captain, a quarterfinal clash with Lyon awaits next month.

Fernandes netted a hat trick in a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad at Old Trafford on Thursday. That result secured a 5-2 aggregate win, turning what seemed like a nerve-wracking night into one filled with celebration. United fans have had little to cheer for this season, but this performance under Amorim stood out as one of their best.

Fernandes was the driving force behind it, and if he stays fit and maintains his form, he could be the key to lifting this team to a trophy and UEFA Champions League qualification.

"We've already spoken about Bruno many times," Amorim remarked after the match.

"We know that sometimes he gets frustrated. We know how badly he wants to win, so when things aren't going well, he changes his position and chases the ball. Sometimes, he needs to trust his teammates, but when we need him, he's always there. He can bring the ball forward, score goals, and even defend. He's the perfect captain for our team, and we need to support him in winning titles."

Fernandes is embracing his role as the team's savior. With strikers Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggling to find the back of the net, the Portuguese midfielder has been directly involved in 11 of United's last 13 goals. This includes his incredible free kick against Arsenal on Sunday, followed by three goals against Sociedad.

Two of his goals came from the penalty spot, with the third being a clinical finish after a powerful late run forward, as almost every other player seemed to be running on empty. Diogo Dalot sealed the win with a goal in stoppage time.

As Fernandes walked over to take a corner, with the game well in hand, he was met with a standing ovation and chants of "Bruno, Bruno" from the crowd.

Without Fernandes, the outcome could have been very different.

United started poorly, conceding the opening goal for the 10th time in 12 games at Old Trafford, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting a penalty.

However, Fernandes quickly responded with his first penalty just six minutes later, followed by another early in the second half. The situation was further aided when Jon Aramburu was sent off only seven minutes after coming on as a substitute for a foul on Patrick Dorgu.

Dorgu, who was signed from Lecce last month, was exceptional. He won the critical second penalty and thought he had earned another before VAR overturned the decision. Amorim's 3-4-3 formation has looked far more structured since the arrival of the 20-year-old Denmark international.

Another January signing, Ayden Heaven, also impressed. The 18-year-old was brought in as a first-team player, but Amorim likely didn't expect him to feature so early. However, due to injuries to Lisandro Martínez, Harry Maguire, and Leny Yoro, Heaven has seized the opportunity. He made his first senior start against both Arsenal and Sociedad and impressed in both matches. Playing as part of the back three, he was solid and composed.

He even showed the composure to calmly dribble past Oyarzabal in his own penalty area as United tried to play out from the back and handled a difficult pass from Casemiro under pressure. This kind of confidence has been lacking from many United players this season.

"We tackle present issues and showcase the future," said Amorim.

"This match was a great boost for everyone at the club. We demonstrated that we are prepared for these kinds of games.

"Our display against Arsenal wasn't pretty, but it was incredibly important for our belief. We conceded a goal but kept performing. From the first minute, we believed we could progress to the next stage. You could feel the energy from the fans, the atmosphere. It's hard to put into words. You can sense the confidence of the supporters. It was a fantastic night."

While Heaven and Dorgu were primarily brought in with an eye on the future, Fernandes is carrying the weight of the present. In recent interviews, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe described some United players as "overpaid and not good enough."

Fernandes was the only one to earn praise, with Ratcliffe calling him "a fabulous footballer." Without Fernandes, he admitted, it would be "really tough."

Ratcliffe is counting on Champions League revenues to help fund his plan to rebuild United. He needs that income to support Amorim's efforts in strengthening the squad and to finance the new stadium unveiled earlier this week. Staying in the Europa League keeps those ambitions alive, and Fernandes deserves credit for keeping United's season on life support.

Bruno Fernandes inspirational again as Man Utd advance in Europa League