Bruno Fernandes has been facing criticism since he was declared as the Manchester United captain at the start of this season. Former captain Roy Keane criticised coach Erik Ten Hag for the decision to name Fernandes captain from the beginning. Recently another former captain Paul Ince has also criticised Fernandes for his body language as the captain. Before their important Champions League match against Galatasaray, the Portugal midfielder answered his critics. He said something will always be criticised and he believes he needs to keep the same way.
Bruno Fernandes was named the Manchester United captain at the start of this season. However, it has not gone down well with some former club captains like Roy Keane and Paul Ince. They have criticised the Portuguese’s body language. Fernandes recently answered all criticisms.
Also Read
Barcelona could receive over €3 million from FIFA as compensation for Gavi
Check ISL 2023-24 Points Table
‘Ideally you want 40 academies’ Arsene Wenger lays down roadmap for AIFF
During the press conference before their all-important Champions League clash against Galatasaray, he said, “Obviously you don’t like it. You don’t like to be criticised. I think everyone is the same. But at the same time, I have to do the best, or what I think is the best, for the team.”
“I’m not always right, but in my head at the moment, it is the right choice so I do it. So, I think it’s quite normal when you play for Man United that you’re going to be criticised even if you do well or bad, if you do the right thing or the wrong thing.”
“So I just have to deal with that. It’s kind of normal since I arrived at the club. In the beginning everything was perfect because when you arrive and in the first game, if you do something different to anyone else is doing, it’s going to be all flowers.”
“But after that, I understand that it’s going to be [tough], the tough part is always coming after the first games, because when the results not coming, when the performances are not as everyone expected to be, and because the expectations are always higher and higher.”
Man United’s season hasn’t started well this term. They’ve lost 9 out of their first 19 matches. In fact, they’re at the bottom of their Champions League group table along with being 6th in the Premier League table. Hence, the criticisms against Bruno Fernandes has piled up more.
He added, “And I know that since I arrived at the club obviously, my numbers made myself a target. So not keeping the same numbers of assists or goals is sometimes a problem for me in the criticism because they’re going to take from there. Now it’s the captaincy but you know it’s going to be always something.”
“But my focus is on the team, on the staff, on everyone that works here with me day by day. I think they are pretty happy with me. The way I am, it’s the same since I arrived at the club. It’s not changed by being the captain.”
“I don’t think it has to change. I’m really open with everyone so no one until now has had a problem with me. So I think I should keep it like that. Everyone here is pretty happy with my leadership, so I think I have to keep the same way.”
Fernandes received the captain’s armband from Harry Maguire who was the captain till last season. Maguire fell out of favour with the coach due to a plethora of mistakes that cost the club. This saw Fernandes spending most of last season as the captain. He was then officially declared the captain this season.
Editors pick
