“It’s the way I am”: Bruno Fernandes explains leadership role at Manchester United

Bruno Fernandes is one of Manchester United’s primary leaders and has taken captaincy responsibilities for most of this season.

Erik ten Hag has turned to the Portuguese midfielder to wear the armband at Old Trafford since Harry Maguire’s position in the starting XI has been in jeopardy.

Despite fewer goals and assists under new management, Fernandes is still offering a lot to the team on a regular basis.

Sometimes it’s his relentless tracking back in games where some grit is needed, other times it’s a killer pass in behind the defensive line, like against Burnley in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. United’s no.8 is certainly not perfect, but he’s key to this side at the moment.

If you’re watching a game involving the advanced midfielder, you’ll probably see him arguing with the referee at one point or another. Sometimes this can be frustrating to watch, but when he’s not there, you will notice that there’s less pressure on the referee by his comrades to make decisions.

“I try to be myself. It’s the way I am,” Fernandes told The Athletic when asked about his leadership style. “I know that if some people see me talking to my team-mates or giving information to them, some of them like it, others less.

“I just try to help make the things better for the team.”

“It’s something that comes naturally to me,” he added. “It’s not something that I try and do in training. Even in normal life, I try to help people.

“My mum and my dad made me understand that if you can help the next person, do it. If that means speaking then I speak.”

Ten Hag is beginning to make a leadership team at the club. He’s recently signed two players who fit that mold perfectly: Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro. Raphael Varane is another who leads despite not being the most vocal (although did show this side of himself in a viral clip of a half-time team talk at the World Cup).

Not everyone needs to be a Bruno Fernandes to be a good leader. But there are some key responsibilities in order to help your side.

“You have to be yourself and you have to lead by example. You have to be at your best in every training session and every game,” explained Fernandes. “Some players are more vocal than others, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not leaders.

“There are different ways to lead, even if some players don’t want to show it so much because they don’t feel it’s necessary or (feel) comfortable doing it. I don’t try to be a leader, I am how I am.”