Erik Ten Hag is under pressure to reconsider Bruno Fernandes’ role as the captain of Manchester United following the midfielder’s actions during their 2-0 defeat against Tottenham on Saturday.

Ten Hag is now under pressure from reconsidering the captain role

The 28-year-old has faced criticism after his public demand for an apology from the officials following the Red Devils’ loss. Fernandes expressed his dissatisfaction when Manchester United was not awarded a penalty after Alejandro Garnacho’s shot struck the arm of Cristian Romero. Although the incident was reviewed by VAR, play continued as Michael Oliver waved away the penalty claims.

Do you think that Bruno did his job in the match versus Tottenham?

After the match, Fernandes expressed his frustration, stating, “I want to see if Jon Moss also comes to apologize to our dressing room like they said he did to the manager of Wolves.” His comments have drawn criticism from various quarters, including former Blackburn and Chelsea striker Chris Sutton, who questioned Fernandes’ suitability as a captain. Sutton remarked on the It’s All Kicking Off podcast, “Bruno Fernandes for me shouldn’t be captain of Manchester United, absolutely not, he’s not a leader. That sums him up. It’s about taking responsibility as a captain.”

Wearing the armband is a big honor

Fernandes assumed the captaincy role on July 20, succeeding Harry Maguire, who had held the position for over three years. Maguire’s removal from the role marked a significant change, with Fernandes stepping up as the new captain. Reflecting on his captaincy, Fernandes previously expressed his pride in the responsibility, stating, “Having the chance to have the armband and having that responsibility is such a big honor.”

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As discussions around Fernandes’ captaincy unfold, Ten Hag faces a challenging decision on how to address the situation and manage the team’s leadership dynamics moving forward.