Erik ten Hag hints at permanent role switch between two Manchester United players

Erik ten Hag has hinted that Bruno Fernandes will take over as Manchester United’s captain next season after he kept Harry Maguire as the skipper ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Despite phasing Maguire out of his starting XI since taking charge at Old Trafford, Ten Hag decided to allow the English defender to remain as the club captain in the first season of his United tenure.

There were calls to change who wore the armband from sections amongst the fanbase but the Dutch manager remained firm in his belief that Maguire was a leader in the group.

“He is an established captain for a few years and he has achieved a lot of success, so I don’t doubt about this issue,” he told reporters in July 2022.

However, since then, Ten Hag has signed Lisandro Martinez and Maguire has had trouble finding consistent minutes in the team ahead of the Argentine and Raphael Varane.

In his place, Bruno Fernandes has taken on this responsibility of the armband and flourished as one of the most important players in the team.

His workrate is often infectious within the side this season, with United being one of the best counter-pressing sides in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, he’s holding the armband well and with Ten Hag namedropping him as the ‘captain’ in his latest press conference, you’d imagine it’s only a matter of time until the Portuguese midfielder is given the role on a permanent basis.

“First as captain, he’s an example on the pitch with the energy he puts in, and for our tactical approach in both the transition moments,” Ten Hag said when speaking about United’s no.8. “Bruno is so important for this team. He’s a great example for everyone in the squad.”

Availability is another key facet to being a great captain. It is something that Maguire possessed whilst he was a key player in the team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but it is also something that Fernandes importantly has.

In fact, incredibly, the midfielder has missed just one fixture through illness since he joined the club at the start of 2020. He has missed no games through an injury, which is staggering.

“Bruno can cope with load standards that are really high and can take a lot of games,” added Ten Hag. “He is a very fit player and so important for this team.”

With Maguire likely to be demoted as the captain, it seems ever more likely that he does end up leaving Old Trafford in the coming summer. Recent reports described that there is a “growing acceptance” that this is the right move for player and club.

If he did end up staying Maguire would only be considered a rotational option unless Varane’s injury problems arose again. But, with the defender in his prime years and in desperate need of game-time to continue his impressive national-team career, there seems only one solution for the centre-back.