Bruno Fernandes doesn't deserve to wear the Manchester United captain's armband for their clash with Real Betis after his horror performance in the 7-0 defeat at Liverpool.
That's an opinion held by former Norwich and Blackburn star Chris Sutton, who believes that the Portuguese midfielder produced one of the worst displays in Premier League history at Anfield.
Fernandes had one near-glory moment in the first-half as he almost gave United the lead with a diving header as both teams battled for an opener. But that was as good as it got for him and the Red Devils.
They completely capitulated after the break and conceded seven times in a 50-minute period as Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez each struck a brace, with Roberto Firmino also finding the net.
As United were getting ripped apart, Fernandes was involved in a series of ugly incidents. The first one of note was when he stumbled over holding his face after being caught by Ibrahima Konate. However, replays showed that Fernandes was actually caught in the chest, rather than his head.
Then, Fernandes appeared to push the assistant referee in frustration and also looked bemused when he wasn't taken off towards the end of the game. Sutton has questioned some of Fernandes' actions during the game and slammed him for his performance as United were obliterated.
"Bruno Fernandes, take a bow for one of the worst performances we have seen from a Premier League player, certainly from a captain," Sutton told the Daily Mail.
"The Incredible Sulk racked up quite the rap sheet at Anfield. There was nothing professional about this behaviour. It was more befitting a petulant child, and the push on the assistant should result in a ban, no ifs and buts.
"It is bad enough you are getting obliterated at Liverpool, but then you see the guy wearing the armband having a go at Ten Hag for not substituting him. Is he really the leader that everybody else is supposed to follow?
"Whatever you think of Harry Maguire, the club captain, you would not catch him behaving like this on the pitch. Ten Hag dealt with the Cristiano Ronaldo problem.
"Now he needs to deal with Fernandes, starting with deciding whether he deserves to wear the armband in Thursday’s Europa League clash with Real Betis. I don’t think he does. Liverpool were fantastic and United were foul, and nobody embodied their deplorable display more than Fernandes."
Fernandes' performance encapsulated what was a torrid afternoon at the office for Ten Hag's men as their Premier League title push was put on halt. They remain a mammoth 14 points behind leaders Arsenal and look unlikely to catch the Gunners despite having a game in hand.
