Bruno Fernandes's reaction to Erik ten Hag is the mentality of player Manchester United should be signing

Erik ten Hag has had to contend with one Manchester United player expressing "no respect" for him and another accusing him of lying.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho are not missed but Bruno Fernandes would be. The United captain was involved in a heated exchange with Ten Hag at Bournemouth that ended with Fernandes wagging his finger.

The incident accounts for the identity crisis United are mired in. Fernandes disputed Andre Onana's short goal kicks, much to Onana's chagrin. Ten Hag urged Fernandes to calm down, Fernandes wouldn't so Ten Hag raised his voice.

Wayne Rooney said earlier this season the goalkeeper is the most important player in the team as he dictates how the team plays. At Bournemouth, United's goalkeeper, captain and manager were involved in a form of conflict seven minutes in.

None of us in the press box construed Fernandes's gesture as insubordination at the time. Then Fernandes scored both of United's goals and hit the crossbar. He was the only player who reached a performance level that would be deemed acceptable.

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His predecessor as captain, Harry Maguire, soldiered on whilst troubled by a thigh problem and Kobbie Mainoo did not go into hiding. The United app invited readers to vote for man of the match when there was only going to be one winner of the poll.

Fernandes is now on 12 goals for the season, two shy of last season's 14. He tallied a staggering 28 in 2020-21 but 2022-23 was his best. Fernandes assumed greater responsibility with the armband strapped to his bicep and excelled in midfield, on the right flank and behind the striker. Ten Hag should have