The aftermath of Manchester United's historic 7-0 loss to Liverpool rambles on, with Bruno Fernandes remaining in the spotlight following his unappreciated display at Anfield.
The Portuguese star, who wore the captain's armband on that day as he typically does in Harry Maguire's absence, drew severe criticism due to his poor performance and on-the-pitch antics.
The 28-year-old was accused of whinging all game by fans and pundits alike, with both Roy Keane and Gary Neville slamming him for being petulant instead of inspirational in the face of that disastrous result.
Additionally, his altercation with the linesman — the midfielder was caught on camera pushing/slapping the back of the official in frustration — and theatrical reaction to a collision with Ibrahima Konate did him no service.
And according to the Daily Mail, those at Old Trafford have also taken notice. The British news outlet reports those at the club weren't too pleased with his behavior in Sunday's 7-0 defeat, deeming it unbefitting for a Manchester United captain.
One thing should be noted: while Bruno has worn the armband for most of the season, the former Sporting CP isn't the club's main skipper. That title still belongs to Harry Maguire. However, with the Englishman all set to leave this summer after falling down the pecking order, a new permanent captain will be anointed.
Fernandes' odds of succeeding the world's most expensive center-back have thus taken a toll but the frustration inside Old Trafford predates the weekend humiliation. In fact, the Daily Mail claims that some of his own teammates, who were irritated by the midfielder's behavior over the weekend, hold reservations over his role as the skipper.
Bruno was accused of demanding to be subbed off, but while this does not appear to be accurate, the former Sporting CP ace was one of many players who attempted to storm down the tunnel at full-time without acknowledging the away fans.
Raphael Varane, who is one of three other candidates to replace Maguire as the no.1 captain, intervened and pull the troops back onto the pitch in order to clap the away support. However, in the short term, Ten Hag isn't expected to strip Bruno of the armband.
David de Gea and Casemiro, two vastly-experienced members of Ten Hag's squad, are also seen as ideal characters to captain the Red Devils. However, the aforementioned Brazilian midfielder will likely end up missing out due to a language barrier, having arrived in England over the summer after his successful spell in Spain with Real Madrid.
All eyes will be on the English giants' next game, a home clash with Real Betis this Thursday in the UEFA Europa League round of 16. Fans will want to see how the players, Bruno in particular, will react following their heaviest defeat in Premier League history.
