Bruno Fernandes insists he has no plans to change his approach as Manchester United captain despite the recent criticism aimed his way.
United legends Roy Keane and Paul Ince are among those who have called for boss Erik ten Hag to change his captain this season following a poor start to the new campaign.
But ten Hag has consistently backed the 29-year-old, praising his “great leadership” following the decision by Fernandes to allow Marcus Rashford to take the penalty instead of him in the 3-0 win over Everton on Sunday.
And Fernandes says his colleagues have been happy with the way he has led the team as captain.
“You don’t like to be criticised, everyone is the same, but at the same time I have to do what I think is best for the team,” he said.
“Probably I’m not always right, but in my head at that moment that’s the right choice so I do it.
“It’s quite normal when you play for Manchester United that you’re going to be criticised if you do well or bad, or the right thing, or the wrong thing.
“I just have to deal with that. It’s kind of normal since I arrived at the club. In the beginning, everything is perfect because when you arrive in the first games, if you do something different than anyone else then it’s going to be all flowers.
“But after that, I understand the tough point is always coming after the first games, when the results are not coming, the performances are not as everyone expects them to be, because expectations are always higher and higher.
“I know that since I arrive at the club, my numbers have made me a target. Not keeping the same numbers in goals or assists or sometimes is a problem for me in the criticism.
“Now it’s the captaincy. It’s going to be always something but my focus is on the team, on the staff and everyone that works with me here day by day.
“I think they are really happy with me, the way I am is the same since I arrive at the club, it’s not changed by being the captain. I don’t think it has to change.
“I’m really open with everyone so until now no one has had a problem with me so I think I should keep like that. Everyone here is pretty happy with my leadership so I think I have to keep the same way.”
