Bruno Fernandes reveals why he is grateful for Erik ten Hag
By Sean Walsh
Bruno Fernandes has admitted that Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has had to 'protect' him at times this season.
Fernandes has consistently been one of the Red Devils' best performers during his three-and-a-half years at the club, but his on-pitch behaviour has been called into question at times.
The spotlight was firmly on Fernandes after Man Utd were humiliated 7-0 by rivals Liverpool at Anfield in March, with his conduct and attitude criticised by club legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville.
His position as vice-captain was also a major talking point for the following days, with various pundits claiming he should be removed from Man Utd's leadership group.
But Ten Hag was quick to publicly defend Fernandes, and ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester City, the Portugal international opened up on their relationship.
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"I'm aware that he's really happy with the way I train, the way I play, the way I show my emotions and the way I show my passion for the game," Fernandes said to the BBC.
"He knows I care. That's why probably sometimes it makes you do some things that you should not do.
"But I will never do anything to make the team look bad, make my teammates look bad, or something that is not good for the team. He knows that, so that's why it protects me.
"I think that's good because he shows you the respect, he shows you the protection, but always with the demands behind that because obviously when you protect someone you want them to give you some back, so he can have his reasons to protect you.
"He has called me to his office two or three times and said 'look, we have to change this, we have to change this, I think you could do it in a different way'. We had many conversations this season."
Fernandes is expected to captain Man Utd at Wembley on Saturday, with skipper Harry Maguire set to start on the bench.
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