Man United star Bruno Fernandes fires back at captaincy criticism as Roy Keane feud continues

Bruno Fernandes has once again responded to doubts over his position as Manchester United captain after criticism from Roy Keane earlier this season.

The Portugal international has been one of the few bright sparks for United in recent years. After signing from Sporting CP in January 2020, Fernandes has been a standout star and was handed the captain's armband by manager Erik ten Hag last year.

However, he has often been lambasted for his body language and perceived negative attitude towards teammates on the pitch. Former United skipper Roy Keane went viral for criticising the 29-year-old's capability of leading the group of players.

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Earlier in the season, Keane insisted he should be stripped of the captaincy, prompting Fernandes to respond. "Obviously you don’t like to be criticised, everyone is the same, but at the same time I have to do what I think is the best for my team," he said in November.

"It is quite normal when you play for Manchester United you are going to get criticised, even if you do well or bad, if you do the wrong or the right thing. I just have to deal with that, it is normal since I arrived at the club.

"In the beginning was everything perfect, because when you arrive in the first game if you do something different than anyone else is doing, is gonna be all flowers. But after that I understand the tough part is always coming, because when the result is not coming, when the performance are not what everyone expects to be, because the expectations are always higher and higher."

Last month, Keane was back criticising the midfielder when he locked horns with Ian Wright. He said: "He's won nothing in his career, he's 29 years of age. What has he won in his career?"

He continued: "I think he is a talented boy. But does he help people out and does he make others around him better? The answer is 100 per cent no. He does like to dig them out, which is fine, but you've also got to drag the others along.

"Would you like to be in that United dressing room today with these guys going... "not sure about him, I think he's OK when we're winning but we're not going to be winning every time".

"How do you stop that momentum and flex your muscles in games? That's what I want. We talk about talented players but sometimes it's about personalities in big games and getting you over the line in big games."

Prior to Saturday's FA Cup final with Man City, the attacking midfielder has bitten back once again amid uncertainty over his future at Old Trafford and criticism over his captaincy. The midfielder says when he puts the armband on, he 'simply tries to be Bruno'.

In a statement on The Players' Tribune, titled 'Dear United' he said: "There will always be those who don’t like your football, but 99 per cent of you have only shown me love. To this day, whenever I see someone on the other side of the world wearing my shirt, it gives me such a special feeling. People send me photos from Hong Kong, or from Nigeria, wearing my number 8 shirt, and every single time, it makes me feel so surprised and humble.

"As captain, I have simply tried to be Bruno. Not another legend, or another personality, but myself. Same Bruno on and off the pitch. And for me, honesty is everything. You fans deserve honesty, with the way you have supported us.

"Frustration. Isn’t that what we all feel? That’s really the only word for this season, I think. If you ask me, or if you ask any United fan, it would be the same.

"There were so many moments when we won a massive game, and it felt like OK, now we are going to build from this … and it just never happened. It never fully clicked for us. We were not consistent enough, and we have to be better. For each other, for the club, for our fans.

"Our travelling support has been amazing. You all saw it at Selhurst Park, when we lost 4–0, and our fans were still standing and singing the entire match. I was out with an injury, and I had to sit and watch at home, which just drives me crazy. (Apologies to my wife and children.) I could hear the fans singing, and it just made me wish that I could have been there on the pitch to stand in front of them and applaud them back. For all the s*** we have been through, with injuries and setbacks, our fans have never stopped giving everything.

"After this difficult season, it is my responsibility to give more. It starts with me. And it starts tomorrow. We have to give everything in this last match against City, and we have to move forward."