Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has spoken highly of club captain Bruno Fernandes ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Bruno Fernandes has been given the captaincy on a full-time basis, with Erik ten Hag throwing his support behind the Portugal international.
Fernandes was United’s second highest scorer last season and led the team for assists and chances created.
Ten Hag expects Fernandes to maintain his high standards and set an example to the rest of his squad.
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Ten Hag on Bruno Fernandes
Ten Hag said: “He’s captain, because he has a very good personality. He is a character and he wants to contribute in his way to the team.
“He’s definitely improving in that role [as captain], but it’s only a role because, most of all, he has to contribute on the pitch and in his positioning.
“What we expect from him there is that he is magnificent in pressing, counter-pressing, attacking transitions and what we expect from him in that final part of the game is that he is decisive, and in decisions, and he has the key actions, the assists and the goals.”
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Manchester United have high hopes
After a strong first season under Erik ten Hag, Manchester United hope for more progression in 2023/24.
The manager has been busy remodeling his squad, replacing David de Gea with Andre Onana, signing striker Rasmus Hojlund, and also adding Mason Mount.
Mason Mount could be crucial to getting the best out of Bruno Fernandes, reducing the demands on him creatively, and giving Ten Hag greater opportunity to rotate.
Fernandes will want to play every minute of every game, we have seen that through the years, and his captaincy indicates he is seen as a regular starter.
But when it is time to take him out of the line-up and give him a rest, with Christian Eriksen in reserve too, Ten Hag has greater options.