If things weren’t getting difficult enough already for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, the next game will be without the captain, Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes picked up two yellow cards vs Wolves to get himself suspended for the game against Newcastle and this, Ruben Amorim lost his most trusted lieutenant.
Despite all the rotation, Fernandes, stands tall as the outfielder with the most most minutes under Amorim so his quality on the ball will be a huge miss.
What won’t be a huge miss is his captaincy if United and Amorim make the right choice for a replacement, even if it’s only for one game.
Man Utd captain in Bruno Fernandes’ absence
Amorim remained tight-lipped before the game about who could be Man Utd captain for the Newcastle game but one name keeps popping up.
That name is Harry Maguire, the player from whom Fernandes received the captaincy. Ever the consummate professional, Maguire has worked his way into the plans of yet another Man Utd manager.
He was dubbed as “perfect” for Amorim’s system by the man himself and since Matthijs de Ligt’s illness, has made the central centre-back spot his own.
Maguire was even called a better captain than Fernandes recently but to go back to a player who symbolised a certain past era at the club when the club is trying to move forward would be counterproductive, as professional Maguire has been.
Fortunately, Amorim doesn’t have to go to Maguire because, in Lisandro Martinez, he’s got the perfect captaincy candidate to lead the team in Fernandes’ absence.
Lisandro Martinez makes perfect sense as Man Utd captain
It can be argued that Martinez has been a captain at Old Trafford without an armband ever since he arrived at the club and hit the ground running.
His style of play, where he wears his heart on the sleeve, combined with his world-class credentials are enough to command the respect of the dressing room.
Martinez has also begun finding some form under Amorim and he’s the first name on the teamsheet for that left-sided centre-back spot.
The Argentine also doesn’t hold the history baggage that comes with Maguire and if anything, personifies the new and committed Man Utd that Amorim wants to mould this team into.
Matthijs de Ligt would have been another contender due to his leadership history but he hasn’t been at the club long enough to be tasked with that responsibility.
In fact, De Ligt and Maguire are in a tussle for that central centre-back spot so giving either of them the captaincy is counter productive as it would effectively declare a winner in that duel.
All those factors combine to make Martinez the idea captaincy candidate vs Newcastle. He’s done it for a long time without the armband.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
