- Roy Keane criticised Bruno Fernandes in an explosive rant last month
- Fernandes has now responded to the United legend’s comments
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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has issued a response to Roy Keane’s fierce criticism of his leadership.
The United legend had an explosive argument with Ian Wright on the Stick to Football podcast last month when he accused the current squad of being ‘f***ing imposters’ and claimed Fernandes needed to prove he was more than just a talented player.
Since Keane’s stunning rant, Fernandes has hit top form, scoring a hat-trick in United’s Europa League win over Real Sociedad last week, before registering a goal and two assists in a 3-0 victory at Leicester on Sunday night.
After the comfortable win at the King Power Stadium, Fernandes was asked whether he had been hurt or motivated by Keane’s comments.
‘I think both,’ Fernandes told Sky Sports. ‘Obviously, it’s not nice to hear those things about you, I think no one likes that. But at the same time, it motivates and makes you think people think there’s a lot of things you have to improve.
‘You have to take it in a positive way, and think whatever people are saying, if there’s a margin for improvement or not. I know you’re talking about Roy Keane. I have huge respect for Roy Keane. I think he was one of the best captains the club had. An amazing player for the club, won basically everything for this club.
Bruno Fernandes scored and registered two assists in Man United’s 3-0 win over Leicester
Roy Keane was fiercely critical of Fernandes during an appearance on the Stick to Football podcast last month
Fernandes has addressed Keane’s criticism, and claims it has inspired him to improve
‘It’s the way he thinks about me as a player, as a captain. I have to respect that. I try to do the things in my own way to be not the best captain but person and team-mate as I can. I do it every day. I try to be an example in everything I do in the training sessions, on the pitch.
‘But obviously, not everyone will like (it), not everyone will think in the same way, and I respect every opinion of everyone. I have accept there is a lot of margin for improvement in my game and my leadership.’
Fernandes has gone some way to answering his critics in recent weeks, but Keane did not hold back in his assessment of the United skipper last month as he urged the Portuguese midfielder to show more fighting qualities.
‘Talent is not enough! You keep going back to talent – Bruno’s a talented player, but it’s not enough!’ he said.
‘Who were you in the dressing room with, Tony Adams! Tony Adams was this, Tony Adams was that, because he was a fighter!
‘You’ve got young players who have to look at somebody and go “I like what he does”. They all can’t put the ball in the top of the net from 25 yards, I get that, but you want someone who’s going “Lads, are you with me? Are you with me?”‘
Wright defended Fernandes amid Keane’s rant, and insisted United would be in in danger of dropping into the Championship without their captain.
‘Maybe he’s not that kind of captain, Roy, I’m with you, but what he’s doing in respects of… saving you, playing that pass, the goal,’ Wright said after United’s 2-2 draw at Everton.
‘If Bruno’s not there, United are in the relegation battle.’
Fernandes now has 16 goals and 15 assists across all competitions this season.
United are up to 13th in the table after their win over Leicester, leapfrogging Tottenham and Everton.
