Fernandes defends Man Utd captaincy after leadership criticism،
Bruno Fernandes has admitted the way he manages Manchester United is “not always fair”, but defended his leadership of Erik ten Hag’s team despite criticism from former skipper Roy Keane.
Keane – United captain between 1997 and 2005 – suggested Fernandes should be removed from the armband due to his behavior on the pitch during the 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City in October.
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Fernandes, however, hit back by insisting “everyone is happy” with the way he is leading the team.
“Obviously you don’t like to be criticized, everyone is the same, but at the same time I have to do what I think is best for my team,” Fernandes said in a press conference on Tuesday.
“I’m probably not always right, but in my head, at the moment, it’s the right choice, so I do it.
“I focus on the team, the staff, everyone who works with me on a day-to-day basis. I think they are quite happy with me, I’ve been the same since I arrived at the club, that hasn’t changed since I became captain…
“I don’t think that needs to change. I’m really open with everyone so no one so far has had a problem with me, so I think I should continue like this, everyone is pretty happy with it. my leadership.”
Fernandes, who arrived at United from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, was named captain in the summer after Ten Hag decided to replace Harry Maguire. The Portuguese midfielder was often criticized even before taking the armband, and he believes that is partly due to his strong start at Old Trafford.
He scored 28 goals in his first full season and although he has been productive in front of goal since (he scored 14 times in all competitions last season), the 29-year-old is nowhere near matching that tally.
“At the beginning everything was perfect, because when you come in the first game, if you do something different from what others do, it will be all blooming,” Fernandes added.
“But after that I understand that the hardest part always comes, because when the result doesn’t come, when the performances are not what everyone expects, because the expectations are always higher and higher .
“I know since I came to the club my numbers have become a goal, so not keeping the same numbers when it comes to goals and assists is sometimes a problem for me. Now it’s the captaincy, he There will always be something.”
