Manchester United icon Paul Scholes feels the criticism levelled at Bruno Fernandes following Manchester United’s 7-0 loss to Liverpool was exaggerated, but admits he ‘worries’ about him captaining the side in ‘big games’.
The Red Devils bounced back against Real Betis on Thursday night to put their 7-0 thrashing against Liverpool firmly behind them.
Man United will enter the second leg of their Europa League Last 16 clash with a commanding 4-1 cushion.
Bruno Fernandes, the stand-in captain, was one of the star performers, scoring and assisting in the emphatic victory.
With club captain Harry Maguire no longer in Ten Hag’s strongest XI, the Portuguese has worn the armband for the majority of the season.
However, Fernandes has become subject to intense criticism for the role he played in the Liverpool defeat last Sunday.
The Portuguese was slammed by club legends Gary Neville and Roy Keane. Fernandes’ performance was branded “disgraceful” by Keane, and “embarrassing” by Neville.
Fernandes shoved a linesman after a decision went against him, continuously expressed and showed his discontent at his teammates, refused to track back at times, and appeared to be asking to be subbed off late on, which infuriated the on-lookers the most.
It was a display unacceptable from a professional Premier League player, let alone from a Man Utd captain, though Fernandes has turned the narrative around him in style against Betis last night.
However, speaking to BT Sport about the United midfielder, Paul Scholes claimed Fernandes may be too sensitive to be a truly efficient United captain.
“Your captain has to be a calming influence, really. He almost has to be the one who calms characters like him down,” Scholes said on BT Sport before kick-off.
“I worry about him if Manchester United, in March or April time, are going for a league title. I don’t think having Bruno as your captain would be ideal.
“But we know he’s only the vice-captain at the minute, we know Harry Maguire’s not playing.
“Going forward, bigger games, bigger parts of the season, going for trophies and big Champions League finals and stuff, I think a captain who’s less emotional might be better.”
READ MORE: Gary Neville on Man Utd’s woes: ‘Epitomised by no one more than Bruno Fernandes’