Bruno Fernandes reveals he changes playing style when Mike Dean referees, explains why

Bruno Fernandes has revealed one of the tricks to his game and it involves marking referees.

The Manchester United star has explained the challenge of finding non-occupied areas on the pitch.

He refers to it as the 'dead zone' - an area where nobody can see you or mark you.

Image: Alamy

And they're often occupied by the match official, with the 28-year-old bringing up Mike Dean as he explained how he adapts his playing style depending on the referee.

"It is about finding the non-occupied areas, or sometimes the dead zones where nobody can see you or mark you," he told The Athletic.

"Or, if they do mark you, they will create more space in the middle of the pitch for other people.

"Normally, I call these the 'referee zone'.

"Because nobody marks the referee. Sometimes, this is what the coaches say to players who play between the lines, or the wingers who want to come inside, or the striker when he wants to drop.

"Of course, sometimes the positions are different because it can be a counter-attack, for example."

Fernandes added: "It also depends on the way an official referees the game. Mike Dean, for example, ran very centrally, which was probably for him better to see the game, but for us as a No 10, that cannot be our position, so you have to find out where you can go."

Image: Alamy

Fernandes' unusual yet shrewd tactic came into play in his side's 3-1 win over Arsenal.

There are a couple of moments when he seems to follow Paul Tierney's movement to escape markers to create chances for his teammates.

For Man United's first two goals, he appears to receive the ball in areas occupied by Tierney.

Fernandes has helped the Red Devils to four consecutive Premier League victories as they sit in fifth place in the table, ahead of facing cross-town rivals Manchester City on Sunday.