Erik ten Hag labelled Bruno Fernandes "an inspiration" as the Manchester United manager leapt to the defence of his vice-captain after attracting criticism in the wake of Sunday's thrashing by Liverpool.
The Portuguese midfielder was chastised for his performance and attitude during United's humiliating 7-0 defeat at Anfield, with critics suggesting he should lose the armband, which he wears in the absence of out-of-favour club captain Harry Maguire.
However, Ten Hag dismissed those suggestions and is optimistic his on-field captain will respond well to the weekend's hardships.
"Everyone has to learn, I have to learn, he will learn as well because he's intelligent," the Dutch manager said at a press conference ahead of his side's Europa League first-leg fixture against Real Betis.
"He's an inspiration for the whole team but no one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes. I'm really happy to have Bruno in the team and really happy that if Harry Maguire isn't on the pitch then Bruno is the captain.
"He's been playing a brilliant season, he has a really important role for why we are in the position we are because he's giving energy to the team, running a lot at the highest intensity, but also in the right way, right direction, and he's pointing and coaching players."
Marcus Rashford seconded his manager's thoughts and threw his full support behind Fernandes, whom he believes has been invaluable since joining from Sporting CP in 2020.
He said: "I love playing with Bruno, as you can imagine. I think, for a forward like me, he's a perfect player to play with.
"He's been a good leader for us even when not captain, which is always a good sign. He's helped others become better leaders.
"Nobody's perfect and sometimes you want to win so bad that you end up doing things that are a little out of character.
"I 100 per cent support Bruno and I'm behind him, and I think as a team we have to support him because he's a fantastic player and as the boss said, we wouldn't be in the position that we're in if he wasn't playing games for us."
The Red Devils host Betis on Thursday. The Spanish side – coached by former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini – are fifth in La Liga.
Hayes sees plenty of Man Utd great Ferguson in herself
Emma Hayes said she "sees so much of herself" in legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Hayes, who left her role at Chelsea at the end of last season, took charge of the United States women's national team in May, with her first test being the Paris Olympics.
She guided the USWNT to their fifth gold medal in the French capital, defeating Brazil 1-0 in the final thanks to Mallory Swanson's 57th minute goal.
After the triumph, Hayes revealed that Ferguson was the first person to congratulate her on the win, going on to say she sees similarities between herself and the Scot.
“I see so much of myself in him. His was the first text I received when we won gold," Hayes said in an interview with The Telegraph.
Hayes spent the early part of her coaching career in the United States, managing the Long Island Lady Riders, Iona Gaels and Chicago Red Stars before her move back to England in 2012.
But her success with the USWNT in Paris is something she had dreamed about growing up in London, a triumph that still strikes an emotional chord a month later.
“I still get a lump in my throat thinking about it,” Hayes says of winning at the Olympics.
“I fill up every time. I have dreamt about it. I have played that out on the pitches by the flats in Camden."
During her time with Chelsea, Hayes won 16 major honours, including the Women's Super League title for the last five consecutive seasons.
The 47-year-old oversaw 367 matches for the Blues, winning 261 (D42 L64), ending her 12-year stint at the club with a win percentage of 71.12%.
She also came close to winning the Women's Champions League in the 2020-21 season, with Chelsea well beaten in the showpiece match by Barcelona.
Despite her success in SW3, Hayes welcomed the change in scenery but understood her success with the Blues put her in a pressurised position.
“I was happy for my time at Chelsea to come to an end,” Hayes said.
“Pressure comes with the position I am in and certainly comes with the winning history I have. I accept that.
“But I have enjoyed feeling joyful again.
"I didn’t realise how debilitating grief is and how much both grief and my own personal struggles of the last few years have really sapped me of everything.
"I am so happy to turn a page. Proud of everything I have done at Chelsea but happy to be in this new space.”
'I want to be a number one' – Kelleher eyes Liverpool departure
Caoimhin Kelleher is ready to leave Liverpool in search of first-team football.
Kelleher, 25, has been Alisson's back-up for several seasons at Anfield, though did play in some big games during Jurgen Klopp's time in charge.
That included starring in the EFL Cup final against Chelsea in 2022.
However, with Liverpool having signed Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will join next season, Kelleher believes the time is right to move on.
And the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper suggested he could have left this summer, if Liverpool had not rejected offers.
"I made it clear in the last few years I want to go be a number one and play week in, week out," said Kelleher ahead of Ireland's Nations League clash with Greece.
"The club made the decision to get another goalkeeper.
"From the outside looking in, it looks like they have made a decision to go in another direction.
"My ambition has always been clear the last few seasons that I want to be a number one, playing week in week out.
"At times it is not always in my hands. My mission was to go out and play, and be a number one.
"It has been reported that Liverpool had rejected a few bids as well. It is not always in my hands to make the decision. My ambition is to prove I am good enough to play week in, week out."
Kelleher made seven saves from nine shots against England on Saturday, and could do little to prevent either Declan Rice or Jack Grealish scoring to hand the Three Lions a 2-0 win.
Ten Hag not the deciding factor for De Ligt in Man Utd move
Matthijs de Ligt has dismissed suggestions that Erik ten Hag was the deciding factor in his transfer to Manchester United.
The Dutchman, along with Noussair Mazraoui, joined the Red Devils in a double signing worth up to £60million from Bayern Munich in August.
De Ligt's breakthrough, however, came at Ajax under Ten Hag, with the manager making him the youngest-ever captain in the club's history during that time.
The following season, Ajax reached their first Champions League semi-final since 1997 and won the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup double before De Ligt left the club to join Juventus.
Ten Hag has often been criticised for targeting his former players during the transfer windows while at United, with De Ligt falling into that category.
However, the defender stressed a reunion with his former head coach was not what drew him to the Premier League.
"I'm already settled in Manchester and enjoying myself. The boys are great, everything was handled perfectly. There's also many Dutch guys on the staff", he told Dutch outlet Vandaag Inside, via Manchester Evening News.
"Erik ten Hag is not the only reason I joined United. We're talking about Manchester United here, one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"There's lots of pressure because the fans are used to things from the past. It's up to us to be as good as possible."
The 25-year-old has played just 89 minutes in the Premier League since joining United, getting his first start in their 3-0 defeat to Liverpool last time out, making just one interception and one tackle.
De Ligt was in the Netherlands' squad for Euro 2024, as the Oranje reached the semi-final, however, he did not play a single minute at the tournament.
Back in the fold for their first two Nations League matches, two lapses in concentration from De Ligt were punished against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Netherlands' 5-2 victory.
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