MANCHESTER UNITED captain Bruno Fernandes has been branded “annoying” by club hero Lee Sharpe.
Fernandes, 29, has worn United’s armband throughout a turbulent season that has seen Erik ten Hag’s men crash out of Europe and drift further away from the top four.
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The playmaker has often produced the goods in terms of workrate, goals and assists but has come under fire due to occasional tantrums that see him lashing out at his team-mates instead of instilling composure as skipper.
Sharpe, 52, believes the Portugal international “lets himself down” as captain with that attitude.
The ex-England international insists Fernandes “works hard” for the Red Devils but his game is “ill-disciplined” as his runs leave his team-mates exposed.
Sharpe told BetVictor: “I have to say that Bruno Fernandes does annoy me. I’m not keen on him throwing himself around and throwing his arms in the air as the Manchester United captain.
“You have to keep your calm when others around you are losing their heads, but the hand waving, the gestures and the moaning is what I just don’t agree with at all.
“You have to be a class above when you’re the captain of Manchester United and he lets himself down in that aspect.
“He does work hard but I think he’s a bit ill-disciplined at times with his positional play.
“Him running all over the place looks like hard work, but it leaves his team-mates exposed. He is hot and cold with me, parts of him are unbelievable but other parts I can take or leave.
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“He does have the ability to produce something out of nothing and his work rate is second to none, but he does still give the ball away cheaply in dangerous areas.
“He tries to play the killer ball too often when he could just keep possession. Against Liverpool I think he touched the ball seven or eight times and gave it away every time.
“I turned to my mate and said, ‘He’ll score a wondergoal now’, then sure enough he went and scored from his own half!”
Bruno Fernandes should be embarrassed by this… United fans were, says Neil Custis
By Neil Custis
BRUNO FERNANDES ended the FA Cup semi-final a man bemused as to what he had been a part of.
No doubt knowing it would be he would have to try and explain it all again.
Rarely have a team slunk away from this stadium with a feeling of embarrassment having just reach an FA Cup Final.
The next time Fernandes turns up at the home of football he wants to be heading up those metal steps and picking up silverware.
Nothing less will do for the captain of Manchester United.
But he knows they have not got a hope of gaining revenge on this cross town rivals Manchester City if this is what they are going to deliver.
This was an embarrassment, plain and simple, for Ten Hag, for Fernandes, for every player in red.
After the skipper finished his TV interview he turned around to the end that had housed the United fans to clap them in thanks.
There was barely anyone left.
Read Neil Custis’ opinion in full here.
Or click here to read all of Neil’s article.