Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag gives verdict on Bruno Fernandes role change

Erik ten Hag thought Bruno Fernandes was "the best player on the pitch" in Manchester United's 4-1 Europa League win over Real Betis.

United all but secured a quarter-final spot in the Europa League with a resounding round-of-16 first leg victory at Old Trafford, scoring three second-half goals four days on from the 7-0 drubbing by Liverpool.

Fernandes, who has donned the armband for the majority of the season with club captain Harry Maguire a rare starter, was widely criticised for his lack of leadership at Anfield and his theatrical reaction to a challenge by Ibrahima Konate.

Read more: United player ratings vs Real Betis

The Portuguese created Antony's winning goal against Betis in the 52nd minute and put United 3-1 up six minutes later on a night Fernandes returned to his favoured role as the No.10.

"I think he was the best player on the pitch," Ten Hag said. "It shows his personality, he played a little deeper role tonight, I asked him to do, and I think he was brilliant.

"He was the leader in making the game from the back in possession, making the rhythm of the game, a lot of good passes in between the lines and from there we created a lot of chances."

Fernandes was booked for a late foul on Betis goalkeeper Claudio Bravo amid suggestions the challenge warranted expulsion. "It's his strength and his passion but you are right, sometimes he has to control that," Ten Hag noted.

"He has to bring it, that is his strength and when it's too much it becomes a weakness, that's true. He knows that and there are always small margins.

"It's his strength and his passion but you are right, sometimes he has to control that, he has to bring it, it is his strength and when it's too much it becomes a weakness, that's true, he