Harry Maguire opens up on Bruno Fernandes’ captaincy, names three surprise Manchester United leaders

Harry Maguire has opened up on Bruno Fernandes captaincy of Manchester United after he was handed the title two seasons ago after it being taken from Maguire.

Erik ten Hag made Bruno Fernandes captain of Manchester United during the summer before his second season in charge of the club.

Harry Maguire was the club captain at the time, having been handed the title by previous manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, but with Fernandes a rock in the side and Maguire’s form slipping, a change was made.

It was a decision that many felt was coming, with Maguire out of the team and Fernandes taking the de facto role anyway, and the Portuguese international has remained in the role ever since.

However, with Maguire’s recent resurgence in the side, he is still viewed as a significant leader in the dressing room.

Maguire opens up on Fernandes

After Fernandes was handed the armband, some were worried that it might cause a split in the dressing room since Maguire remained a player, but the England centre-back maintains that he has a great relationship with Fernandes.

“Me and Bruno and I have a great relationship,” Maguire told Match of the Day. “When I was captain, he supported me brilliantly. I trust him so much and I’m sure he trusts me as well.

“Now, obviously, he’s captain and we both see ourselves as leaders. When I was captain, I felt like Bruno was a leader in his own right as well and I trusted his opinion and we worked off each other and I think it’s the same now he’s captain as well.

“He’s a fantastic player and a great lad to have in the dressing room. So, yeah, we have a good relationship.”

Who are the leaders in United’s squad?

Further, Maguire was asked who are the current leaders in the squad aside, to which he named a surprising trio.

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“I think we have a lot of leaders,” Maguire continued. Obviously, we’ve got Casemiro, who won everything. Great leader, good attitude. Bruno himself.

“We have a lot of senior players. Tom Heaton, Jonny Evans. At the moment, we know it’s a difficult period and that’s when we, as senior and older players, have got to take the responsibility on and step up.”

Considering how little Casemiro has played of late and Evans and Heaton’s current injuries, it may be surprising to hear that three of the side’s best leaders aren’t on the football field.

Leadership is something Rúben Amorim is missing on the pitch, and this may explain why.

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