Alan Pardew has urged Erik ten Hag to strip Bruno Fernandes of the captaincy role at Manchester United – but not for the reasons you might think.
Since Fernandes was promoted to skipper, Roy Keane has been vocal in his stance that the Portugal star is unsuitable to lead the team.
More recently, he addressed his concerns after a 3-0 Manchester derby defeat at Old Trafford last season, telling the Sky Sports panel post-match that Fernandes is the ‘opposite’ of what he’d want in a captain because of his ‘moaning and throwing his arms up in the air constantly’.
Indeed, Fernandes’ theatrics have often seen him come under fire from commentators, former players and, at times, even his own fans. On numerous occasions, the midfielder earned himself a booking for his on-pitch behaviour, which has, in turn, been detrimental to the team if he’s gone on to achieve a yellow card suspension.
Pardew, however, has shared a different sentiment to Keane’s, and it has nothing to do with the player’s notorious in-game antics.
Captain duties are hampering Fernandes’ game, claims Pardew
Speaking to talkSPORT via GiveMeSport, the ex-Crystal Palace boss said: “You’ve got your skipper out there, you’ve got a technical skipper. When you’ve got a technician as a skipper, I think it’s always dangerous because they’re going to have off games.
“Even [Christian] Eriksen in his prime, [Michel] Platini in his prime, they’d have the off day. They were technical players.”
“Defensively, he’s [Fernandes] not been called upon,” he continued. “How can he lead the team? It’s a very difficult one for him.
“I actually think it would be better for him as a footballer to take it off him. I think it might free him up a bit and let him be a bit more free-minded. He’s probably worrying about the back four, worrying about the wingers. You don’t really know how to deal with it.
“I don’t know, I think it’s a hamper to him.”
