Erik ten Hag has praised Bruno Fernandes and Martin Odegaard for how they lead their respective teams ahead of Sunday's blockbuster bout between Manchester United and Arsenal.
The two great rivals will clash in a game that could prove pivotal in the Premier League title race, with United getting the chance to move within five points of the table-toppers with a win but will fall 11 behind should they lose.
Though Harry Maguire remains captain, the centre-back's exclusion from the starting XI in recent months has seen Fernandes take up the armband and the Portuguese has grown into a leadership role. Odegaard, Arsenal's skipper, and Fernandes are similar in that they're not stereotypical captains yet still drive on and exude an influence over their teams. Ten Hag admires both of them.
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"They are two great players," he told Sky Sports. "So skilful and they score goals. They symbolise the modern footballer in their attitudes.
"They play good football and they know they have to work for the team, they are team players and use their abilities to make their team better so the individual skills are in the interests of the team. There is only one Messi, we saw that at the World Cup. The rest have to work and be part of a team."
United go into the crucial match without one of their most important players as Casemiro is unavailable due to suspension. Yet, Ten Hag believes he will still have plenty of leaders on the field even without the Brazilian linchpin.
"I have many leaders in De Gea, Varane, Eriksen and Shaw. He has shown so much progress in his personality and leading by example, I have no worries about leadership and with this team, we beat them the first time and in this team, we have confidence.
"It will be close, it is about detail and being good in the execution of the game plan. We are in good form and we have a good chance."
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