Manchester United have a six man leadership group under Ruben Amorim, but two others bring qualities not found in Bruno Fernandes and others.
Within the ranks of Manchester United, the leadership team consists of names who touch every corner of the dressing room.
Bruno Fernandes is the club captain and emobodies Ruben Amorim’s vision for the club on the grass, although he is joined in the group by others of varying importance.
Amorim picked his leadership group last season with the six consisting of former United captain Harry Maguire, veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton, with Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot also involved.
This group could change consistently, depending on the incomings and outgoings, with next summer likely to see at least two of the six exit, with Maguire and Heaton’s contracts expiring.
However, there are already two players making cases for themselves to be in the group.
Ruben Amorim names refreshing Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha quality at Manchester United
Despite having the six man leadership group set for this season, United have players not named who are big presences on and off the pitch.
Casemiro is guaranteed to be a leader, while on the pitch, both Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha are example setters, which should see them considered leaders.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Amorim picked out the pair for being ‘crazy’ on the pitch, setting examples for younger players.
“It’s not just the leaders. We need leaders, but sometimes what I’m thinking that we miss some crazy guys”, Amorim explained.
“I think Cunha is a little bit like that. He’s a guy that is a good guy, but he doesn’t care who you are – ‘Don’t mess around when I play.’
“He can play whatever is there in that position. I will go with the ball. We need this kind of feeling that because Harry Maguire was captain and played for his national team. But you can feel it sometimes when things are going wrong, we go down.
“No matter if it’s Bruno with the experience, or Harry, that is in the past, so we need to live in the future. And then sometimes you look at the pitch, something is going really wrong, and you see Bryan with a different light. Yeah.
“Because he came from a different environment, and then you look at Cunha and you feel that Cunha sometimes is frustrated, but you can feel that frustration is ‘give me the ball.’
“You know, so we miss that. So we need to forget the past, and we need sometimes that crazy guy who doesn’t care that the world can be on fire, but I don’t care.”
Amorim has basically explained that Mbeumo and Cunha don’t let bad things impact their game, instead remaining focused, being mentally strong enough to keep going.
This is something United have not had much of over the past decade.
Bruno Fernandes could learn from Bryan Mbeumo’s level headedness
Having players who don’t capitulate under pressure and hardship is a must, and while he is top class, Fernandes at times can be guilty of getting swept up in his frustrations and anger, letting it impact his game.
Roy Keane has previously slammed Fernandes, claiming the Portuguese midfielder is an imposter, hardly being a fan of him as the club captain, due to his on field antics.
Fernandes only became United captain in 2023, however, his job has been met with criticism, however, his importance cannot be unnoticed, even if he can be a liability on the pitch at times.
This season has shown that both Mbeumo and Cunha have the same leadership demeanour, however, both also able to play while the world is on fire.
Beyond this season, both should be in the leadership group, and potentially even contenders for the captaincy, depending on how things progress.
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