Erik ten Hag hailed Bruno Fernandes as a "great captain" who set an example for his Manchester United teammates by completing 90 minutes against Tottenham.
Fernandes sustained an ankle injury in the first half of the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton and eventually had to come off before extra-time.
Although Fernandes posted a picture that showed strapping on his right ankle with a protective boot and crutches visible on Monday, he started in United's 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Thursday night.
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Fernandes captained United again in the absence of the injured Harry Maguire and on a night Ten Hag accused some players of operating at 90%, he enthused about Fernandes's commitment.
"It was tough," Ten Hag said. "Big compliment on Bruno, he absolutely doesn’t want to miss this game, and he did everything to get fit.
"I think he is the example, that you have to suffer, that you have to sacrifice, when you want to play on top level, when you want to achieve something.
"So once again he showed again how great a captain he is, how has taken responsibility, even when he is not 100 per cent fit.
"But he did the job, he was important in this game as well. Hopefully others in the team can, not learn, but they see him as an inspiration and do the same."
Jadon Sancho scored his first goal as a starter since September to put United 1-0 up after seven minutes but the winger was substituted in the 61st minute.
Sancho also had an opportunity to put United 2-0 up but his deflected effort was nodded off the line by Eric Dier. That was still on Ten Hag's mind as he assessed the 23-year-old's performance. "He scored a great goal. I think he had to score another one. He had quite a good performance.
"But also we lose control and also in the pressing before half-time, the defensive organisation on the left side wasn’t great cooperation. So I hoped to improve that."
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