Bruno Fernandes has detailed how Erik ten Hag has stamped his authority on the Manchester United squad.
The red half of Manchester has been transformed since Ten Hag’s arrival. They are playing exciting and entertaining football, and are close to winning silverware this season.
In a recent interview with Rio Ferdinand, Fernandes admitted that Ten Hag does not amend his rules for anyone.
He told BT Sport: “I think he first arrived and we went on tour and the training sessions that we had and here after that and everything, he demands – he demands from people and you do it or you won’t play.
“So everybody was a little like in the beginning: ‘whoa, he will do that or not? If a big player doesn’t do what he wants he will pull him out or not?’ And he did it.
“He did it many times. He did it with Cristiano [Ronaldo], he did it with Jadon [Sancho], and Marcus [Rashford] also.
“In the big moments like Marcus was probably in the best form against Wolves, he did something wrong, the manager pulled him out and everyone was like ‘whoa’.
“Obviously Marcus, in the beginning of it, he was angry because he wants to play but he did wrong, he accepted, he went to the game, came on, scores and wins. End of the story.
“I’m a parent, you’re a father too, sometimes you have to make some rules at your house, if not they will go over you and in a short period of time they will be owners of the house.”
Erik ten Hag instilled displicine at Manchester United
The Dutchman has overseen plenty of on-field and off-field issues in his short stay at Old Trafford.
He has come out on top every time, including against global superstars. Ronaldo departed for Saudi Arabia and the Red Devils are thriving without him.
Club captain Harry Maguire is no longer a guaranteed starter, with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane in front of him in the pecking order.
Ten Hag has brought calmness and stability to the Red Devils with his decisions. The club comes first, no matter if it means making hard calls.
Fernandes has been the flagbearer for Ten Hag on the pitch, and his performances justify that.
Since moving to Old Trafford in January 2020, Fernandes has been United’s most influential player.
In 36 games this season, he has netted seven goals and seven assists.
The numbers are not as high as in his first season at Old Trafford, but he is the catalyst without which the team cannot function properly.
Fernandes will hopefully continue to perform at this level and help Ten Hag lift silverware by the end of the season.
