Doubts once again arise regarding Erik ten Hag and Man Utd post their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday. The game showcased City’s dominance, leaving Man Utd fans surprised by the ease with which Pep Guardiola’s team controlled the match.
Erling Haaland, a thorn in Man Utd’s side, scored the opener from the penalty spot and later headed in a second after the break. Haaland then assisted Phil Foden for City’s third, prompting many Man Utd supporters to leave before the game ended, given City’s clear superiority.
Following the result, Roy Keane suggested that Ten Hag should strip Fernandes of the captaincy due to his poor performance and constant complaints to the referee. Gary Neville called the team’s display a ‘shambles’ and criticized Ten Hag’s halftime substitution of Sofyan Amrabat with Mason Mount as ‘reckless’.
Insider Ben Jacobs revealed that while the Man Utd board supports Ten Hag, there are brewing issues among the players. Senior players like Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, and Scott McTominay are striving to rectify the situation, excluding Fernandes from the mentioned leaders.
Jacobs’ insights didn’t mention Fernandes when identifying key players working to maintain unity and improve the team’s condition. Fernandes, previously expected to take the armband after Ten Hag replaced Maguire, exhibited negative behavior against City, constantly arguing with the referee and displaying poor tackling after losing the ball. This conduct seemed to influence Antony, who narrowly avoided a red card for a reckless challenge shortly after entering the game against City.