Graeme Souness insists Bruno Fernandes is not cut out for captaincy and that he wouldn't trust the Manchester United man 'in the trenches' of a Premier League battle.
Fernandes has been ever-present for United this season and has often worn the armband in the absence of club captain Harry Maguire. The defender's future at Old Trafford is uncertain, with Erik ten Hag likely to appoint a new leader over the summer.
Portuguese midfielder Fernandes looks to be the obvious choice given his experience in the role this season, but he came in for heavy criticism during the 7-0 defeat at Liverpool. Several Reds were accused of giving up at Anfield that evening, with Fernandes in particular singled out.
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"His attitude when they went 3-0 down at Liverpool was appalling," Souness told William Hill's Up Front With Simon Jordan podcast. "You certainly would not want to be in the trenches with him. When you become a captain of a football team it's about setting an example on the pitch and off it.
"In the case of Bruno, you'll see him be a star when you're on top of the opposition and on the front foot, and he can be a real talent, but he showed a side to him that day at Anfield which was very unattractive.
"Erik ten Hag has then chosen to overlook it because he knows going forward that Bruno will win him games and score goals. But he'll think, the next time he comes up against a really difficult situation, is he going to go missing? I think he already knows the answer to that."
Ten Hag was moved to back his midfielder after that abysmal defeat against Liverpool, with his staunch defence of the 28-year-old suggesting he sees things differently to Souness and other critics.
"He's playing a brilliant season, he's had a really important role in why we're in the position where we are, and he's giving energy to the team - not only running a lot at the highest intensity but the right way and right direction," the Dutchman said.
"He's coaching players, he's an inspiration, but no one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, we have to learn, he has to learn and he will, because he's intelligent. I'm happy to have Bruno Fernandes in the team and happy that he's captain when Harry isn't on the pitch."
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