Last weekend, Bruno Fernandes, who served as Manchester United’s interim captain for a large portion of last season, was given the armband in place of Harry Maguire by Erik ten Hag
Raphael Varane supports Erik ten Hag’s choice to remove Harry Maguire as captain of Manchester United and replace him with Bruno Fernandes.
Varane had taken the reins for the Red Devils’ first two preseason games, but Fernandes was officially named the team’s new permanent captain on Thursday. On Sunday, Maguire declared that Ten Hag had asked him to resign from the position.
Given that the England international had fallen in the standings throughout the previous season, the news wasn’t particularly shocking. Prior to his meeting with Maguire, United’s head coach Ten Hag kept the identity of the new captain a secret from his team.
However, Varane, a seasoned defender, insisted that the action displayed the grit that United needed to reclaim their position as the premier team in English football.
Since he is the team’s leader, he must demonstrate character himself if he wants a team with it. He is unafraid to make these choices and accept that accountability. We anticipate the manager to act in this manner. He did it, therefore in situations like this, I believe you lead by example,” he said to ESPN.
“He is quite clear about what he wants. He has demonstrated that tenacity, and we have known from the first day exactly what we needed to do and where he wanted to go. For the players and the squad, everything is obvious, and a good connection with the manager.”
“We require players with charisma and character. You need that kind of character if you want to win significant trophies. Sometimes there is a mental component that separates a top squad from a decent team.
“We must have faith, be persistent, and pay attention to the players’ character,” We intend to contend for every honor. That is what is expected of this team. We want to develop as a team, become more reliable, and compete for the top spot. That is what we desire.
Last season, Fernandes frequently assumed the armband when Maguire was out. Varane is pleased that the midfielder is stepping up, but the former captain of United has made it known that he is not pleased with Ten Hag’s transfer.
“The management has informed me he is replacing captain after our meetings today. Although I am personally very disappointed, I will still give it my all each time I wear the shirt, he stated after explaining his reasoning to me, according to a statement he released on Sunday.
“Therefore, I wanted to express my sincere gratitude to the Manchester United supporters for all of their outstanding support while I’ve been carrying the armband. Being the manager of Manchester United has been a great honor and one of my finest moments since I assumed the position.
“It ranks among the top honors in club football. I have exerted every effort, both on and off the field, to support United’s success. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has my eternal gratitude for first entrusting me with the duty.
