In the world of football, leadership is a critical aspect that can make or break a team. Recently, former Manchester United player Roy Keane made headlines when he suggested that current captain Bruno Fernandes should be stripped of his captaincy. This article delves into this controversial call and its potential implications.
On Boxing Day, Ruben Amorim's men faced a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Adding salt to the wound was United skipper Bruno Fernandes' dismissal from the game after receiving two bookings. As a result, the Portugal international is now suspended from participating in Old Trafford club’s Monday night encounter with Newcastle United.
A hint at replacement
Following this incident, Amorim hinted at possible changes in leadership for the upcoming Newcastle United fixture. He suggested that former skipper Harry Maguire could potentially take up the armband for this match.
Ruben Amorim, Manchester United manager, said:
“You will have to wait and see about the captain. He’s working really well. He’s focused on the job, not what people say.
“He has no excuses - even if he’s had some tough moments. In that respect, he’s an example. He’s there to play to help the team and he’s trying to do that.”
While it remains clear that these changes are temporary and only applicable for one game, there seems to be an undercurrent of anticipation about whether these changes might extend beyond just one match.
Keane's controversial suggestion
Roy Keane has been vocal about his thoughts on Manchester United's leadership structure in recent times. Last term after United’s 3-0 defeat to rivals Manchester City, he called for Fernandes to be stripped of his captaincy role permanently.
Roy Keane, Manchester United legend, said:
"Today having watched him again I would take the captaincy off him 100 per cent, I know it's a big decision, obviously they changed the captaincy with Maguire, but Fernandes is not captain material. He is a talented player no doubt about it. But what I saw today - we've discussed many times before, it was last season at Liverpool - his whinging, his moaning and throwing his arms up in the air constantly.
"It really isn't acceptable. From what we saw today, I'm thinking I would take that off him. You have to start somewhere. We were talking about where do you start [fixing the problems] - the manager, board level. I would start with that because the manager is capable of doing that. Fernandes is a brilliant footballer but in terms of captain material he is the opposite to what I would want in a captain."
Keane believes that such drastic measures could potentially shake things up within the team and lead to better performance outcomes in future matches. However, it remains uncertain whether his suggestions will be taken into consideration by those who make decisions at Manchester United.
