Harry Redknapp breaks ranks with review of Bruno Fernandes as Man Utd skipper
Harry Redknapp believes Bruno Fernandes produced "a real captain's performance" against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Fernandes helped Manchester United recover from two goals down to beat Forest 3-2 at Old Trafford. The visitors took a shock lead when Taiwo Awoniyi and Willy Boly scored, but goals from Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Fernandes turned the game on its head.
The Portugal international has faced criticism since being handed the captaincy on a full-time basis earlier this summer. Erik ten Hag gave him the armband after taking it off Harry Maguire, leaving the Englishman's Old Trafford future in serious doubt.
Although Fernandes wore the armband for much of last season, many critics believe he's the wrong man for the job. Yet legendary Premier League boss Redknapp thinks the former Sporting Lisbon has what it takes to lead United to success.
"It was a real captain’s performance from Bruno Fernandes against Forest, he was everywhere," Redknapp told BetVictor. "He did a little bit of everything, he scored one, created one and got a man sent off (Joe Worrall).
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Worrall was dismissed when Fernandes got in behind the defence and forced the Forest man to make a last-gasp challenge. Redknapp added: "It wasn’t a great United performance, and I don’t think they would have won the game if it wasn’t for their skipper."
Redknapp's comments come after Chris Sutton urged Ten Hag to give the captaincy to someone else. The Premier League winner offered his advice after United were humbled 2-0 at Tottenham in their previous outing, with Fernandes missing a sitter.
"Bruno Fernandes for me shouldn't be captain of Manchester United, absolutely not, he's not a leader," Sutton told the Daily Mail. "That (complaining at the referee) basically sums him up. It's about taking responsibility as a captain."
Bruno Fernandes was handed the Manchester United captaincy earlier this summer (Getty Images)What do you make of Bruno Fernandes' captaincy? Let us know in the comments below!
Sutton isn't the only pundit to question Fernandes' leadership. Micah Richards called his behaviour "pathetic" after the Tottenham defeat. "It's getting embarrassing now," Richards told The Rest Is Football podcast. "The young lad (Facundo) Pellistri comes on, Fernandes is trying to get his team playing and I totally understand he's frustrated.
"Pellistri made a run, Fernandes didn't see him and he made a different run but because he wasn't where (Fernandes) wanted him to be, he's going off at Pellistri. It's every time. I saw an interview with him the other day and he said he needs to be emotional when he performs because it makes him play better.
"But I feel like his body language on the pitch is disturbing the rest of the team and it's just not a good look at all. It's pathetic at times."
Ten Hag has backed Fernandes in the press. He recently said: "Of course, I back him... Last season when he did it (captaining United), he did brilliantly. Now as well. He’s an inspiration, an example for the team, he has the personality. He is a very good captain."
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