Fernandes’ gesture after the Burnley match shows why he is the captain of Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes and Jonny Evans were the last to leave the Moor pitch at full time on Saturday. Bruno Fernandes and Jonny Evans were the last to leave the Moor pitch at full time on Saturday. (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
To the 2,000 or so Manchester United fans who gathered at the Barnfield Construction Stand at Turf Moor after full-time on Saturday night, it might have appeared that Jonny Evans had been named Player of the Match and few would have disputed the decision.
The 35-year-old made his first United start in eight years as he walked away from Burnley with three crucial points. It was his long, precise pass that landed perfectly on the boot of Bruno Fernandes, the midfielder who volleyed home the only goal of the game. United were by no means at their best on Saturday night and Erik ten Hag’s side were left to fight for all three points. Evans was at the heart of a solid defense and contributed to their second clean sheet of the season, putting all his experience to good use as Burnley pushed for an equalizer.
NOTES: Fernandes and Evans won well against Burnley
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And as he and Fernandes left their media duties on TNT Sports after the match to greet fans, few batted an eye when they saw the defender with the distinctive yellow Player of the Match trophy in his hands – but that didn’t was not the case. case.
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That honor went to Fernandes, the scorer of the winning goal and United’s main driving force that evening. With Antony and Jadon Sancho absent, he was channeled beyond goal and it was a run from the penalty area that Evans found with his assist. Fernandes also won the award on a night where most of United’s players performed well, but none stood out. However, the 29-year-old has plenty of trophies at home and is likely to win many more. He took it upon himself to name Evans Player of the Match on what he would later describe as “the best night of my life”.
Since being announced as United’s permanent captain last summer, Fernandes has become a lightning rod for wider criticism of the club’s poor start. His confrontational attitude can often be mistaken for a bad attitude, and while the focus on some underperformance is right, questions about his character are misinformed at best.
“He always wants to be a better footballer and work very hard to deliver his maximum performance,” said Ten Hag when he named his new captain last summer. “So it’s a mirror to a lot of players and it’s a good social connector.”
Fernandes’ first two months as permanent captain did not go to plan, with United experiencing a worse start than the previous season. But in adversity he demonstrated why Ten Hag supported him in leading the team.
Wednesday’s 4-3 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich was another example of his improved leadership, with midfielder Lisandro Martinez calming down and avoiding a second yellow card. The Argentine had just pushed Harry Kane to the ground and was about to face Leon Goretzka.
Both earned yellow cards for their troubles, but Martinez continued with the verbal actions. It was only when Fernandes removed him from the situation that further punishment was avoided.
This was the tough side of captain Fernandes and on Saturday night it was the soft side. Signed as a free agent by Leicester City following his release, Evans is an emergency option at centre-back, but judging from the last few weeks, he will be needed between now and May.
Saturday’s gesture was small, but the effect it could have on player morale is enormous. These things often go unnoticed, but that’s why Fernandes is United’s captain. Order your copy of Manchester United in Europe TODAY
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