Erik ten Hag lauds praise for Bruno Fernandes and his Manchester United captaincy role

Bruno Fernandes has taken up captaincy duties at Manchester United in the absence of Harry Maguire.

Manchester United's captain has been a long debate since Wayne Rooney left the club in 2017, with a handful of players taking the armband since.

The longest serving captain since 2017 had been Harry Maguire, who was promoted to the position by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Ashley Young left the club.

However, under Erik ten Hag's reign so far, Maguire has not seen much football after being benched by Lisandro Martinez, and therefore Ten Hag has had to elect a new player to fulfil these duties in his absence.

Bruno Fernandes, after signing for the club in January 2020, has become a firm fan-favourite among Old Trafford fans and has taken a leading role in the dressing room.

He has been elected by Ten Hag as his substitute captain so far this season, and when speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Dutch manager was full of praise for the midfielder.

"I think Bruno (Fernandes) is playing really good this season," he said. "I can see in that fact, he can produce more goals, assists.

"But I think he’s often in the line of the goal and he’s playing a massive role in a lot of moments of football for us: in building up attacks, creativity, movement, but also in transitions, in both sides, in the defensive transitions he’s magnificent and doing a really good job so I’m really happy with his performances.”

Ten Hag was also questioned on his he feels Fernandes is performing with respect to the armband, and the manager said he has been impressed with the way Fernandes has taken on the responsibility.

Bruno Fernandes against Newcastle United. (Alamy)

“That’s also one of the things [he’s impressed me with], I think he’s really an example," Ten Hag answered.

"The way he transfers the way of play from us, how he motivates around him, how he is the example, so the energy he gives to the team, that’s really good and so I’m happy with his performance.

"I know it will come, his goals and assists, and it will be even more."

Ten Hag alluded earlier in the press conference that he is never 100 per cent satisfied, and he was asked on if he sees the same personality trait in Bruno Fernandes too.

“Yes, I see that," was his short and sharp response.