Erik ten Hag demands Bruno Fernandes apology after Fulham incident

Erik ten Hag has demanded that Fulham apologise Bruno Fernandes over a TikTok that appeared to be derogatory towards the Manchester United captain in the wake of last weekend’s Premier League meeting between the clubs at Old Trafford.

Posted by Fulham's official account on the platform, the content in question focused on Fernandes after his ankle was clipped from behind by Sasa Lukic. Set to comedic music, the implication was that the Portuguese, who got up after a few seconds of showing visible discomfort, was playacting. The associated caption read, "So glad he's ok…", accompanied by an eye-rolling emoji.

"I didn't know this but if they did it, I would say it is not right," Ten Hag commented on Thursday, the day after the video was originally posted. "It's absolutely not right that a club makes such statements because it is totally out of order and they were wrong. So they should apologise for this."

Ten Hag, who had already given a strong defence of his player after Wednesday night's FA Cup fifth round victory over Nottingham Forest, added that referees need to offer more protection.

"He is a very passionate football player and he is a very creative football player. He is creating most chances in the Premier League. You see opponents are targeting him and, especially after Saturday, when he had a knock and they see it, I feel the refereeing should protect him," the boss said.

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"They had the chance already in the start of the game because it was obvious they were looking for him. I thought it was definitely a foul on Saturday and it was really misjudged from media, from social media to blame him for that. Then opponents are targeting him and that is not right because the referee should protect him. There were fouls on him, even after the ball was kicked away."

Ten Hag made Fernandes club captain last summer after the former Sporting CP skipper had worn the armband for much of last season with Harry Maguire on the bench. Unsurprisingly, the United boss said he considers him to be among the best players he has worked with.

"[He ranks] highly, very highly," Ten Hag continued. "First of all, his football skills. He is so creative in that final third, creating chances. Then his output and contribution for defending jobs, and then leading, reading a situation, reading the press but also being the example, by running and running in the right moments. Pointing to players around him. He is absolutely a leader by example."

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