Erik ten Hag has confirmed Bruno Fernandes will remain Manchester United's vice-captain despite calls for the Portuguese midfielder to be removed of this responsibility.
Fernandes skippered United during Sunday's 7-0 hammering at Anfield in the absence of club captain Harry Maguire, who has lost his place in the starting eleven to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane after a series of shaky defensive performances.
The Portugal international struggled to lead by example against Liverpool, however, and was criticised after the game for antics Gary Neville labelled 'embarrassing'. Repeatedly throwing his arms up in the air in frustration, going to ground holding his face after being brushed in the chest by Ibrahima Konate and refusing to track back were the main features of an induvial display that did little to help the collective.
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Evidently unconcerned by what he witnessed, Ten Hag had admitted he is planning to stick by the Sporting Lisbon star in his leadership role. "He's playing a brilliant season. He's had a really important role in why we're in the position we are," the Red Devils' boss told reporters at a press conference today.
"He's giving energy to the team, not only running a lot at the highest intensity but in the right way and right direction. He's coaching players, he's an inspiration. But no-one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes. We have to learn and he has to learn. He will because he's intelligent. I'm happy to have Bruno Fernandes in the team and he will be captain when Harry isn't on the pitch."
Echoing this sentiment, Marcus Rashford insisted he has no issues with how Fernandes conducts himself on the pitch and backed his team-mate when quizzed on the matter. "I love playing with Bruno, as you can imagine. For a forward like me, he is the perfect player to play with," he said.
"I think he has been a good leader for us, even when he has not been captain. He has helped other players become better leaders and the reality of it is we can't be a well-organised team with just one leader being the captain. He has done a lot for us in terms of bringing his leadership skills in, and that was from the moment he arrived. I don't have anything negative to say about Bruno. Nobody is perfect, sometimes you want to win so badly that you do things a little bit out of character but I 100 percent support Bruno and we have to support him as he is a fantastic player."
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