Gary Neville has claimed the overwhelming majority of Manchester United fans agreed with his staunch criticism of Bruno Fernandes.
The Old Trafford legend has taken aim at Fernandes on a number of occasions and called out what he perceived as negative body language. Speaking earlier this week, the United midfielder hit back at those claims - and in particular the suggestion he asked to be substituted during the 7-0 drubbing against Liverpool.
“I never try to be disrespectful with anyone. 75,000 in Old Trafford, you have to make gestures with your hand,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “We know pundits have to say things. It's about my team-mates being happy, when they are not I want them to tell me.”
On the reaction to his conduct at Anfield specifically, he added: “Most of the things that were said after that game were complete lies. People said because I raised my arms, they supposed I said something that I didn't say.
“The pundits want always to say something bad, they want to get credit and attention from the people outside.”
But an undeterred Neville has doubled down on his comments and said plenty are on his side. “I don't talk to any United fan that likes the way Fernandes behaves particularly when the team are losing, when he throws his arms around,” he said before United’s clash with Nottingham Forest.
“As a football player he's been fantastic for United, his goals and assists. He says he doesn't cause a problem when he throws his arms around, he does.
“I played with Roy [Keane] who would hand out the odd rollicking. The last few years there's been players at United tutting which I think is a different type of criticism, it doesn't help young players.
“I called it out when Cristiano [Ronaldo] was doing it a couple of years ago, I don't like it. Direct criticism is fine. He is passionate, he is emotional, he gets involved with the referee. I've got no problem with that.
“Every United man I speak to feels the same thing, sometimes he goes over the top.”
Following the defeat on Merseyside, there were huge calls for the Portuguese star to be stripped of the captain’s armband he has adopted when Harry Maguire is not in the side. Erik ten Hag quickly quelled that sentiment however and he has remained as one of the Dutchman's senior leaders.
Fernandes has already confronted critics of his leadership style, claiming that those within the Old Trafford dressing room know exactly what he is trying to get across.
“Sometimes when I’m shouting, from the outside it seems like I’m saying something bad to my team-mates, but it’s the opposite way around,” he told BT Sport last month.
"It’s the way I do it with the arms and everything. Sometimes I do it in a good way, but you see me waving my arms and you think it’s in a bad way."
