Manchester United’s best captains have traditionally been macho men who played as if raised on red meat and Guinness. Warriors like Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Roy Keane and Wayne Rooney.
Bruno Fernandes isn’t like that, his nickname is The Squirrel rather than Captain Marvel, but Erik ten Hag has identified him as the right leader for his modern United. So far his judgement looks spot on.
It wasn’t that long ago Bruno’s whining was getting everyone down, even Gary Neville. The perception was he couldn’t flourish in the same team as Cristiano Ronaldo. The assumption was he’d had to leave Old Trafford so the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could stay. Wrong!
Instead, Ronaldo has been pastured off by ten Hag to Saudi Arabia and Bruno promoted to wear the armband with Harry Maguire sidelined. The Portuguese playmaker is hardly ever rested, starting 36 of United’s 39 games this season, and rarely even substituted.
He’s won the respect of past United greats like Paul Scholes for sacrificing himself for the team, playing on the right-hand side of a 4-2-3-1 when necessary. And the results have been spectacular.
Bruno Fernandes is a different sort of captain to the likes of Roy Keane and Wayne Rooney
Steve Bruce, Bryan Robson and Keane were famously combative captains in Manchester United’s most successful era
United are unbeaten in nine and still in the running for four trophies. After knocking out Barcelona in the Europa League on Thursday night, they face Newcastle United on Sunday in the Carabao Cup final.
If they win, it’ll be their first prize since Rooney lifted the 2017 Europa League in his final appearance for the club. Then comparisons with a return to the Fergie era and the prospect of a Quadruple can begin in earnest.
Bruno isn’t perfect and some of those imperfections were on view against Barca. He missed a one-on-one against Marc-Andre ter Stegen and then gave away a penalty for an ill-judged tug on Alejandro Balde.
His pass completion rate is never among the highest but that’s because he has the courage and ability to risk the difficult.
It can be match-defining. Two brilliant set-ups for Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho at the weekend led to United’s Premier League win against Leicester.
Erik ten Hag has identified the perfect captain for this modern United side in the absence of Harry Maguire
Fernandes had previously spurned a glorious early chance to fire United ahead on such a crucial night at Old Trafford
But the captain for the night then teed up Fred’s equaliser just after half-time to begin the comeback
He also made the assist for Fred’s equaliser against Barca and has now had a hand in 25 European goals since 2020 – putting him in a very elite group with Robert Lewandowski, Kylian Mbappe, Mo Salah and Karem Benzema.
Ten Hag likes that adventure in his leader, having a creative captain.
‘I like speed. I like dynamic football. I like football that entertains people. I don’t like static football, I don’t like boring football,’ said the manager after reaching the last-16.
‘We have great personalities. Bruno is a winning type, so is David (de Gea), Rapha (Varane), Licha (Lisandro Martinez), Casemiro. Everyone has a such a strong belief and fight in this team.’
Ten Hag makes an interesting point. United have several natural captains in their team these days. Yet Bruno is the man trusted most to be the official leader.
Argentine Lisandro Martinez has established himself as one of the side’s most vital players
The Red Devils have lost two of the three games that Fernandes has missed so far this season
Maguire (right) is the club’s captain but has struggled to break through Martinez and Raphael Varane’s partnership at the back
Of the three games he’s missed this season, United have lost two. His style is different to the likes of Keane and Robson but his contribution in helping the club turn their fortunes around indicate he is a worthy successor.
And one thing he does share with them is relentlessness in the pursuit of victory.
Within minutes of completing the famous win against Barca, Bruno was on the pitch being interviewed – and already thinking of the next challenge at Wembley.
‘The club is made on comebacks like this,’ he began, before adding: ‘It’s a great result for us obviously – but now we have a big match on Sunday.’