Bruno Fernandes once again put his MU teammates in a difficult position by receiving a second yellow card for a high foot challenge. If the Portuguese midfielder cannot control his emotions and behavior, it may be time for him to be stripped of the captaincy.
What is the role of a captain? To motivate teammates and push the team forward. A captain also needs to be the calmest person on the field to handle situations and communicate with the referee. But Fernandes is not that.
He has previously been known for his complaints, frequently arguing with referees over situations that often don’t warrant much discussion. Now, Fernandes has gone further by continuously displaying a lack of composure on the pitch.
In the match against Porto early this morning (October 4), the Portuguese midfielder received a red card, plunging MU into crisis. In the 32nd minute, he received his first yellow card for a high foot, and in the 81st minute, he was shown a second yellow card for a similar foul.
This means Fernandes has been sent off in back-to-back matches in less than a week. Last Sunday, he received a direct red card for a challenge on Tottenham’s James Maddison. Although the red card was rescinded after the defeat to Tottenham, the recent events raise serious doubts about the captaincy of the Portuguese midfielder.
In fact, Fernandes has received more red cards this week (2) than goals he has scored this season (0). He is experiencing one of the toughest phases since joining MU. In his previous 242 matches for MU, Fernandes had never received a red card.
With the new red card in the match against Porto, Fernandes will miss the crucial upcoming match – an away game against Fenerbahce in Turkey on October 24.
Being the captain yet repeatedly putting MU in a position of playing with fewer men has enraged fans. Additionally, he is adding pressure on Ten Hag, who is going through a tough time with four winless matches and his future in doubt. Ten Hag continues to place his trust in Fernandes, but this decision could cost him his job.
Two consecutive red cards raise many questions about Fernandes’ leadership role and his ability to control his emotions. Some opinions even suggest that the Portuguese player is subtly “rebelling” against his coach.
TNT Sports football expert Karen Carney criticized Bruno Fernandes for his lack of control and expressed disappointment after the MU captain was sent off again.
“I’m quite confused about Bruno Fernandes,” Carney said. “Why did he raise his foot like that? Why didn’t he use his head? Bruno just had a successful appeal against a previous red card but then received another one in the very next match. The issue here is controlling emotions and behavior, which Bruno Fernandes did not have today.”
If Fernandes cannot manage his emotions, perhaps Coach Ten Hag should consider resting him for a few matches to regain balance. The Portuguese midfielder still plays a crucial role for MU, but over-relying on him could become a double-edged sword.
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