Harry Maguire had the Manchester United captaincy taken from him and given to Bruno Fernandes earlier than displaying who he actually was in a tough profession second
Bruno Fernandes has addressed the ‘awkward’ feeling he felt after being requested to take over the Manchester United captaincy from Harry Maguire(Image: CameraSport by way of Getty Images)
Harry Maguire confirmed Manchester United team-mate Bruno Fernandes his true class when handing over the membership’s captaincy. The Portugal ace paid tribute to Maguire for handling the transition with class and making the change as simple because it may have been.
Maguire, who signed a brand new one-year contract extension on Friday, was relieved of the captaincy by then-manager Erik ten Hag in 2023 after a protracted lack of kind. Fernandes, 31, emerged as the apparent option to succeed him, although the pair proceed to share a dressing room at Old Trafford.
The United skipper has now make clear the personal change that passed off between the 2 gamers within the wake of that call. Rather than any awkwardness lingering, Maguire’s gracious response rapidly put Fernandes comfy and set the tone for a respectful working relationship that endures to this present day.
“To be honest, [when] I got asked if I wanted to be captain of the club, it was a bit awkward for me because obviously I hadn’t spoken to Harry about it,” Fernandes instructed LIFEJACKET. “But he already knew it before me, so I think the manager spoke with him before speaking with me.
“So he was excellent, he got here and talked to me about it and he stated that if he needed to lose the armband, it will go to somebody like me. So that made me a bit bit extra relaxed concerning the scenario, additionally as a result of me and him had a really shut relationship earlier than as a result of he was already captain, I used to be captain when he wasn’t there.
“So we knew this would keep the communication [about] things we needed to sort out in the dressing room, or whatever. And that hasn’t changed since then, because obviously I’ve got the armband but I’ve always made Harry aware [he’s] part of the captain’s armband, too, because I think he deserves that respect in terms of everything he’s done for the club and everything he’s done also for me since I came to the club.”
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Fernandes admitted it was nonetheless laborious for him to cover his delight at being chosen as skipper at Old Trafford. He recognised the prolonged succession of legendary United captains and what a major second it represented for him to enter that choose circle.
In an ideal world, a captaincy transition would happen when one chief departs a membership on a optimistic observe having fulfilled his tasks impeccably. Yet in Maguire’s scenario, it was considered nearly as a relegation within the United squad during a spell of poor form.
When questioned about how issues have altered for him as captain, Fernandes continued by saying the one real distinction is the quantity of media obligations. The PFA Player of the Year was already acquainted with dealing with media tasks however assumed a good heavier burden as captain.
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On a extra detailed degree, although, he is strived to make sure his relationships with different squad members stay broadly unchanged. More exactly, Fernandes wrapped up by noting he has persistently tried to deal with others the identical as he provided a humble overview of his tasks.
“I haven’t changed the way I behave around people or the way I treat people,” he added. “Because I think the main thing always has to be respect between the people you work with, towards you and you towards them.
“And it does not change by you being the captain. It does not make you any larger than anybody else, so it is simply an armband that offers you accountability in sure moments that it’s a must to make selections on behalf of others. But that is the one factor and you’ll’t step on high of anybody simply since you’ve received the armband.”