Former Newcastle manager, Alan Pardew, in a recent interview, stated that Manchester United’s head coach, Erik ten Hag, should relieve Bruno Fernandes of his captaincy to allow him to play without the burden, and also believes that technical players like Fernandes are not suited to be team leaders.
Bruno Fernandes took over from Harry Maguire as Manchester United’s preferred captain last season, but during his tenure as captain, Manchester United only managed to finish 8th in the Premier League, setting a new low for the club. The start of the new season has also been rocky for United, especially with a 0-3 defeat against their arch-rivals Liverpool in the third round of the season.
“In order to fulfill the responsibilities of the captain, he has to participate in defense, how can he lead the team forward then? I think it would be better for him to take off the captain’s armband, which would allow him to play more freely and organize attacks without the burden.”
“He worries about the lack of a barrier in front of the defenders and cannot break through as a winger; he really doesn’t have that much energy. I think being the captain is an obstacle for him. It distracts him too much, thereby restraining his performance.”
“When you appoint a technical player as the captain, I believe it’s risky because it takes away too much of their focus.”
