Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has hit back at ongoing criticism of his captaincy, insisting his passion and intensity are central to his game.
The Portugal international has often been accused of complaining too much on the pitch, with pundits and fans questioning whether that makes him the right leader for United.
However, manager Ruben Amorim has consistently dismissed suggestions of stripping Fernandes of the armband.
Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated Manchester derby against rivals City, Fernandes admitted he is unapologetic about his emotional style of play.
“Everything I include myself in, I just like to go full,” Fernandes explained. “I don’t like doing things halfway. Football has always been the main thing and I always wanted to give it my all.
What you see on the pitch is what Bruno is like—the passion I put into everything. Away from football I’m calmer, but still very passionate in everything I do.”
Fernandes also stressed he is not concerned with outside opinions about his attitude.
“People can judge me the way they want. I can’t change that,” he said. “They have the freedom to think about me as I have the freedom to think about them. If everyone thought the same, life would be so boring.”
Reflecting on his leadership responsibilities at Old Trafford, Fernandes revealed the mental preparation required to guide his teammates.
“During a game, I think about our goal, which is to win. I remember every step we trained, every position my teammates need to be in,” he noted.
“On set-pieces, I know exactly where everyone has to be. The only nervous part is getting everything into my memory so I can recall it in the game. When I’m on the ball, I know the movements we’ve worked on. Thinking about this all week makes it automatic during matches.”
With the Manchester derby looming, Fernandes remains defiant that his passion is an asset, not a flaw—a leadership trait he believes will continue to drive United forward.
