Erik ten Hag backs captain Fernandes as Manchester United’s ‘inspiration’

Erik ten Hag is adamant that Manchester United must reset from the “mess” of Sunday’s 7-0 humiliation at Liverpool, with the manager praising the stand-in captain Bruno Fernandes as “an inspiration”.

Ten Hag, speaking for the first time since the club’s record-equalling defeat, said he did not feel let down by his players. United were 1-0 behind at the break but capitulated in the second-half, Fernandes’s disappointing display drawing particular criticism.

“We are in the same boat, we win together, we lose together, we make a mess on Sunday and we have to deal with it,” said the manager.

“We talked about it, we’ve seen it and set the right conclusions, then we have to reset and bounce back. We know in a season setbacks will always be there. It was a huge setback, that’s clear. There were a lot of lessons in it and that can help us for the future, that’s the positive – how negative it is. We were really below average, especially mentally wise. That’s the way we treated it, all the energy, all the focus has to be on the next game.”

United host Real Betis in Thursday’s Europa League last-16 first leg tie and Ten Hag said he would “definitely” stand by his decision to hand Fernandes the captain’s armband in the absence of the injured club captain, Harry Maguire. The Portuguese playmaker’s second-half performance saw him not tracking Stefan Bajcetic, brush-off an assistant linesman and appearing to feign injury.

“He’s playing a brilliant season,” said Ten Hag, “he’s had a really important role in why we’re in the position where we are. He’s giving energy to the team, not only running a lot at the highest intensity but the right way and right direction.

“He’s coaching players, he’s an inspiration, but no one is perfect,