Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag hits back at the critics of Bruno Fernandes after his late winner against Fulham.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag retaliated against the critics of his captain Bruno Fernandes after the Fulham victory. Fernandes scored a late winner for United to secure three important points in the Premier League game at Craven Cottage.
The Red Devils lost two consecutive games at Old Trafford before travelling to London and needed a statement victory. United are currently in eighth position after 11 games in the Premier League table.
Many football pundits like ex-United captain Roy Keane criticized Fernandes after the 0-3 loss in the Manchester derby. Keane questioned Fernandes’ on-field antics and demanded the removal of Fernandes from his captaincy role.
Ten Hag told TNT Sports (h/t Metro) after the game that Fernandes is a captain who leads by example. He said:
“I don’t understand it. So everyone has their mistakes and no-one is perfect. But he is doing a lot of things very good. He shows every time as a captain that he is an example.”
Fernandes has been a consistent performer for the Red Devils since signing for them in January of 2022. The 29-year-old has appeared in 199 matches for United while contributing with 66 goals and 57 assists.
The United boss appointed Fernandes, the senior team captain during the summer before the current season commenced. The Portuguese playmaker has made 14 appearances in all competitions this season while providing two goals and three assists.
Fernandes received continuous criticism for his poor form despite producing sensational performances for Portugal’s national team in the international breaks. However, he has played out of position in the right wing to compensate for the limited options on the squad.
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Fernandes has shown that he deserves Ten Hag’s faith in the Portuguese player. The 29-year-old put in a very strong shift against Fulham, working hard on and off the ball. United needs to build on this win and their Portuguese captain will play a crucial role going forward.
