Manchester United head coach, Ruben Amorim, has come to the defense of his captain Bruno Fernandes following a scathing critique from the club's retired midfielder, Roy Keane. This comes in response to Keane's repeated questioning of Fernandes' character and his recent demand for the Portuguese playmaker to be stripped of United's captaincy.
Keane has been vocal about his disapproval of Fernandes' attitude on multiple occasions. His latest tirade against the 30-year-old was aired on the Stick to Football podcast where he stated: "Bruno's not a fighter." He further added that while talent is important, it alone is not enough for success in football.
This isn't the first time that Keane has launched a verbal assault on Fernandes. At the start of last season, he demanded that United strip him off his captaincy role.
Amorim hits back at criticism
In response to these allegations, Ruben Amorim offered a sweeping rebuttal defending his player. He highlighted how instrumental Bruno has been in Manchester United’s recent successes.
Ruben Amorim, Manchester United manager, said:
"I have a different opinion, Bruno is really important for us in the club. He's special for me. He's playing well in a difficult context. He always wants the responsibility.
"I know always as a captain he does things with his arms and sometimes you see it like it's criticising the teammates. I think most of all it's a lot of frustration for the last few years. He wants to win and sometimes it's really hard to deal with that frustration.
"But like I said, everybody has an opinion, Roy Keane has big standards from him in his time. And it's normal to have an opinion. I have an opposite opinion and I think it's more important than Roy Keane's because I'm the coach. And I think he's doing things quite well."
Fernandes was responsible for creating all three goals during their comeback victory over Ipswich Town this Wednesday night. The Portuguese star leads Manchester United across several statistical categories including goals scored, assists provided, shots taken and chances created among others.
Proven performer
Amorim also pointed out how crucial Fernandes’ performance was during their Premier League match against Everton last weekend. It was thanks to his second-half free-kick - which marked United’s first shot on target - that they were able to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.
Despite criticism from some quarters like Roy Keane’s ranting tirades questioning his character and leadership abilities, Bruno Fernandes continues to prove his worth on the pitch. His performances have been instrumental in Manchester United's recent successes and he remains a key figure in their squad.
While Keane's critique may continue, it is clear that Bruno Fernandes' contributions to Manchester United are undeniable. His performance statistics speak for themselves and his coach’s defense further solidifies his importance to the team. As sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts watch this drama unfold, they can be assured that Fernandes will continue delivering stellar performances regardless of off-pitch controversies.
