Erik ten Hag is a calm and dignified man. It's one of the things that is likeable about him. It also lends him an aura of power, control and authority.
It is easy to fear someone who is shouting and ranting all the time, harder to truly respect them. So Ten Hag scores highly on the body language, certainly.
What the Manchester United manager must do now is consider taking another tough decision and this one revolves around the future of Bruno Fernandes as his captain.
Harry Maguire is the club captain at United but rarely plays these days so, on match day, the responsibility passes to Fernandes, only it seems to one that the Portuguese player does not understand.
Captaincy matters in football, or at least it should. The player leading the team and wearing the arm band should set the tone, not just in terms of the way he or she plays but also in terms of behaviour and attitude. Fernandes, for all his gifts as a creative footballer, flunks it on all those levels and this is not just an over-reaction to what happened at Anfield during that miserable second half for Ten Hag's team.
Fernandes was embarrassing on Sunday, his behaviour extreme.
But we have seen it before at a more micro-level. The complaining to referees, the theatrical criticism of team-mates, the amateur dramatics when in contact with opponents. It is not the way any player at a top club should behave, never mind the captain.
Gary Neville, a former United skipper, was in to him quickly on commentary on Sunday. He called his second half behaviour a 'disgrace' and it wasn't too much of an exaggeration.
Not all players are cut out for captaincy. Some are better off concentrating on their own football and there is no shame in that. Fernandes, from that point of view, has much to offer.
In terms of a replacement, there are candidates.
Casemiro – the Brazilian – may struggle with the language as he is not confident in English yet. Raphael Varane may therefore be a better candidate.
Marcus Rashford, quiet though he is, may offer something by way of leading by example. So may Christian Eriksen, when fit.
Ten Hag should look at all this, at the very least.
For all United's remarkable progress on his short watch, Sunday at Anfield showed him that problems remain. Fernandes as captain is most definitely one of them.
ZaidanKhan
0
it well documented that he likes to play risky pass , goes thru u got a chance at goal don't go thru u lose the ball. they all know what they sign him for,
It's been Bruno 3rd season in EPl and he never be a MVP or player of the month in EPl or manu, tell me when he save manu when manu wants a win, he can never be a leader, he's an average player not a match winner.
fuckyoubonori
0
who made this clown captain who don't even have captain quality
canacdklnp
0
You are right. He thinks he is better than what he is.
yes,he is better than what he is
D10S_LM10
0
He is good in crying 😂 always complaining crying or throwing tantrums.
D10S_LM10
0
He is good in crying 😂 always complaining crying or throwing tanty
ChaoCheeTot
0
He's always missing in the big games as usual...[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
AustinEvergreen1
0
When we fought for the quadruple last season, we also played every 3 days!!!! And we didn’t lose 7:0!!!
And in the end how many of the truphy did you win in the end
Yeuadpsuz
0
Nonsense English pundits why didn't you say the same about H. Maguire when he was constantly bringing shame to the club on and off the pitch. Bruno may not have done himself justice but everyone has a bad day once a while and even though it's hard to take we should understand that fatigue had a lot to do in yesterday's game. The boys have played almost every 3 days for the past 30days.
I know all the players were a mess yesterday but I believe if wan bissaka and malacia had started it would have been a different story! u need a hard tackling full back wen playing high pressing teams
tesacmnor
2
embarrassing
racabemou
0
He's one of the overrated player in football World, he make lot of mistake, each and every time he pull his arm in the air and blame other.
it well documented that he likes to play risky pass , goes thru u got a chance at goal don't go thru u lose the ball. they all know what they sign him for,
Chocboi78
0
When we fought for the quadruple last season, we also played every 3 days!!!! And we didn’t lose 7:0!!!
Wen u lost to Aston Villa last two seasons 2-7. What happened
jucbnpryz
0
Nonsense English pundits why didn't you say the same about H. Maguire when he was constantly bringing shame to the club on and off the pitch. Bruno may not have done himself justice but everyone has a bad day once a while and even though it's hard to take we should understand that fatigue had a lot to do in yesterday's game. The boys have played almost every 3 days for the past 30days.
When we fought for the quadruple last season, we also played every 3 days!!!! And we didn’t lose 7:0!!!
zupeiknpyz
0
Ahahahah what a joke of a comment . Truly , Ladyman and Neville are lovers
yuhadelt
0
good luck
nozcioptz
0
He's one of the overrated player in football World, he make lot of mistake, each and every time he pull his arm in the air and blame other.
You are right. He thinks he is better than what he is.
AjetomobiOladipupo
0
Nonsense English pundits why didn't you say the same about H. Maguire when he was constantly bringing shame to the club on and off the pitch. Bruno may not have done himself justice but everyone has a bad day once a while and even though it's hard to take we should understand that fatigue had a lot to do in yesterday's game. The boys have played almost every 3 days for the past 30days.
You understand football 💪
Dakatho
3
eggosa91
7
salah send him flying 😭
bumbsty
0
Nonsense English pundits why didn't you say the same about H. Maguire when he was constantly bringing shame to the club on and off the pitch. Bruno may not have done himself justice but everyone has a bad day once a while and even though it's hard to take we should understand that fatigue had a lot to do in yesterday's game. The boys have played almost every 3 days for the past 30days.
I agree with here
affan_malikkkkk
1
1kingtemmy
1
ZaidanKhan
5
He's one of the overrated player in football World, he make lot of mistake, each and every time he pull his arm in the air and blame other.
AustinEvergreen1
6
Nonsense English pundits why didn't you say the same about H. Maguire when he was constantly bringing shame to the club on and off the pitch. Bruno may not have done himself justice but everyone has a bad day once a while and even though it's hard to take we should understand that fatigue had a lot to do in yesterday's game. The boys have played almost every 3 days for the past 30days.