The responsibility of being the captain of Man United is a weighty one, but Bruno Fernandes is the clear and only option.

At times, being in charge of Manchester United can feel like the most daunting task at Old Trafford. Being named captain means wearing an armband, having a certain status, and being open to criticism, including from the team’s most legendary leader.

Although Bruno Fernandes made a selfless decision to pass instead of shoot, a player who has been criticized for being too trigger-happy, he allowed Marcus Rashford to take the penalty and end his goalless streak during the Everton game on Sunday. However, not everyone praised this gesture, with Roy Keane expressing his disapproval by stating that goals should not be simply handed out.

Paul Ince has proposed that the captaincy be taken away from Fernandes. Gary Neville has been vocal about his opinions on the Portuguese player, criticizing his performance in last season’s 7-0 loss at Anfield and last month’s 3-0 defeat in the Manchester derby. Neville sees Fernandes’ complaints to referees as excessive complaining and has even accused him of intentionally trying to harm John Stones.

During his time as manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stated that a few players rejected the role of United’s captain. On the other hand, Harry Maguire, who was often criticized by Keane and seemed to take offense at the idea that Maguire would be his replacement, is currently experiencing a personal revival after being demoted by Erik ten Hag in the summer and returning to the team.

When Fernandes was promoted by Ten Hag, he embraced it. When questioned about Rashford’s penalty kick at Goodison Park, the Dutch coach took a contrasting view from Keane. “I want to highlight that this is excellent leadership: to recognize that your teammate needs a goal and to have trust in each other to give away the penalty,” stated the manager of United.

In the meantime, Fernandes disregarded the current controversy. “No one enjoys being criticized, but I have to do what I believe is best for my team,” he stated. “I may not always be correct, but I believe my decision is the right one at this time.”

It is also apparent that he must be the most suitable candidate for the position. In recent years, the role of captain at United has often been given to older or injured players, as well as those who are struggling or not playing regularly. However, Fernandes is a reliable choice who seems to be unaffected by injuries. During last season, Ten Hag stated that United had many leaders, but one has left (David de Gea), another (Raphael Varane) has lost his place in the team, and a third (Lisandro Martinez) is currently injured. A fourth potential leader, Casemiro, is currently sidelined and possibly declining. Rashford has been quieter and not performing at his best.

Fernandes is no longer the captain, but he is confident that he has strong support within Old Trafford and can still lead by example. He acknowledges that there will always be criticism, especially now that he holds the captaincy. However, he believes that his team, the staff, and everyone who works with him are satisfied with his performance. He has remained true to himself since joining the club and being named captain has not affected his leadership style. He maintains open communication with everyone and has not encountered any issues thus far.

Keane agrees with the statement, but when Fernandes first joined United, he received mostly positive feedback for his impressive performance. Fernandes acknowledged that criticism is a normal part of playing for Manchester United, regardless of whether he does well or poorly, makes the right or wrong decisions. He has learned to accept it since joining the club. In the beginning, everything was perfect and he received praise because his first game was exceptional and stood out from others.

“After that, I realized that the most challenging part is always ahead, especially when the desired outcome is not achieved and the performances do not meet expectations. As my numbers have made me a target since I joined the club, not maintaining the same level of goals and assists can be a source of criticism for me.”

The highest recorded numbers were 28 goals and 17 assists during the 2020-21 season; this stands as the most remarkable season for any United player since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. It may not have been able to be maintained; in the current season, Fernandes has only scored four goals and made four assists, but three of those goals have resulted in wins.

If he was chosen to set a good example, a match against Galatasaray where Manchester United could potentially be eliminated from the Champions League, and missing players such as Rashford, Casemiro, and Martinez, requires a captain who can inspire. However, as Fernandes acknowledged, his days of easy success are over.

Source: independent.co.uk