Revealed: Harry Maguire will not lift Carabao Cup trophy alone if Manchester United win

Harry Maguire, despite being Manchester United’s club captain, will not lift the trophy alone as is customary when a team wins a competition.

Manchester United‘s captaincy has been up for debate often this season, with club captain Harry Maguire not playing in the majority of fixtures – with Bruno Fernandes taking the armband on the field for most of this season.

Fernandes has started almost every single game under Erik ten Hag this campaign and is a key part of the leadership in the squad, and it has now been said that should United win the Carabao Cup against Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes will share the lifting of the trophy.

This is according to the Mirror, who claim that Maguire plans to do so in order to honour the fact that the Portuguese midfielder has captained the side more often than himself this season.

Bruno Fernandes has been a fantastic captain for United this season, with Ten Hag recognising this on multiple occasions.

“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 on Fernandes and his role in the squad earlier this month.

“Bruno is so important for this team. He’s a great example for everyone in the squad.”

Signs that Ten Hag rated Bruno Fernandes as captaincy material emerged as early as back in August, just days after Manchester United defeated Liverpool 2-1 for their first victory under the Dutchman’s guise.

“We have a leader group and Harry is one of them, Bruno is one of them,” he said after the victory. “Bruno did quite well as captain. He led by example and he brings so much energy to the team in and out of possession.”

Speaking ahead of the final, Erik ten Hag spoke on the impact winning a first trophy could have on the Manchester United squad. “It’s massive but first get the first one,” he said. “Now we have the opportunity to get that one and don’t think further ahead.

“That doesn’t make sense (to think further ahead), it doesn’t help you. It’s about focusing, we have the opportunity Sunday and we have to put everything we have in to get that trophy and to get that to Manchester.”