Bruno Fernandes, the captain of Manchester United, is receiving praise from practically everyone after scoring the game-winning goal against Fulham on Saturday.
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In response to a photo on Instagram that showed him and his teammates celebrating the late win, De Gea responded, “You are not the right captain.” A zipped-mouth emoji was used to accompany the message, giving some people the impression that the Spaniard was admitting he didn’t think his old teammate was the best choice for the armband.
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However, some were more persuaded that Fernandes—whose status as captain was recently questioned by Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane—was the real beneficiary of the remarks. After the recent 3-0 loss in the Manchester derby, the treble-winning Old Trafford veteran demanded that the playmaker have his armband taken away, labeling Fernandes as “the opposite to what you want in a captain.”
Manager Erik ten Hag, who is currently under pressure, is particularly pleased with Fernandes’ performance in his more formal leadership role. After the victory on Saturday, the Dutchman told reporters, “He did this [win games] from the moment I made him captain.”
“Whenever he plays, he exudes enthusiasm and leads by example. Observe how he applies pressure and how he responds to it. The way he runs for recuperation. He always accepts responsibility and is the perfect example. outside of the field.
“He assumes accountability not only through his crucial goals but also through his constant pursuit of the ball and desire to create.” My captain makes me happy.”
Given that the two former teammates are well-known to be close friends off the field, it’s very likely that De Gea was asking Fernandes’ detractors to shut up. When De Gea returned to Manchester, the two were recently spotted together, with Fernandes supporting the goalie’s Rebel Gaming squad.
Moreover, a lot of the team’s fans seem happy with Harry Maguire’s replacement in the position, even though Keane maintains he’s “not captain material.” Although the Red Devils aren’t where they want to be—sitting eighth in the Premier League and seemingly without a chance to qualify for the Champions League—Fernandes couldn’t have answered the criticism more forcefully recently.