One moment sums up the difference between Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire as Manchester United captain

On the League Cup media day at Carrington in February, Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire sauntered over from the main building to the Jimmy Murphy Centre to attend engagements for the final's programme.

Three of us were waiting on the ground floor for Marcus Rashford, having already spoken to Lisandro Martinez. When Fernandes was escorted through the double-glass doors, he noticed the three journalists and shook each of us by the hand.

When Maguire entered, he was on his phone, offered a "hello" and headed upstairs. A little can mean a lot.

By that time, the captain's armband must have felt snug on Fernandes's bicep. He had led United to a spirited victory over Crystal Palace the previous day and captained them in all but nine of United's fixtures.

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Fernandes was at ease with the greater responsibility. The first time he skippered United in Paris in October 2020, he was wide-eyed and his eyebrow arched when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer announced his promotion. The revelation was captured live on the Zoom call.

There was little fanfare about Maguire's bump up in January 2020. Solskjaer had said in an earlier press conference he viewed Maguire as captain material and Maguire was at the front of the queue for the Europa League group game against Partizan Belgrade three months earlier.

Maguire was the fastest player to be appointed United captain following their signing since Maurice Setters in 1962. He was Solskjaer's man and £80million signing. That always made his position untenable once Solskjaer wiped away the tears after his exit interview in November 2021.

At Watford's Vicarage Road, Solskjaer attended his post-match Zoom in the Elton John Stand. He was still standing, but