MICAH RICHARDS has branded Bruno Fernandes’ body language “pathetic”.
Fernandes was visibly exasperated throughout Manchester United‘s 2-0 loss to Totttenham Hotspur last weekend.
AlamyBruno Fernandes’ body language has annoyed pundit Micah Richards[/caption]
AlamyRichards laid into Fernandes on The Rest Is Football podcast[/caption]
The midfielder was particularly angry over the failure to award United a penalty in the first half for an alleged Cristian Romero handball.
The 28-year-old also looked upset as he berated rising star Facundo Pellistri following the breakdown of a move on Sunday.
Richards criticised Fernandes for his conduct on The Rest Is Football podcast and suggested his behaviour could be affecting his colleagues.
The Portuguese attacking midfielder replaced Harry Maguire as skipper this season, having worn the armband for much of the last campaign with the England international out of first team consideration.
Richards said: “It’s getting embarrassing now. The young lad Pellistri comes on. Fernandes is trying to get his team playing and I totally understand he’s frustrated.
“Pellistri made a run, Fernandes didn’t see him and [so] he made a different run but because he wasn’t where [Fernandes] wanted him to be, he’s going off at Pellestri.
“It’s every time. I saw an interview with him the other day and he said he needs to be emotional when he performs because it makes him play better.
“‘But I feel like his body language on the pitch is disturbing the rest of the team and it’s just not a good look at all. It’s pathetic at times.”
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GettyLouis Saha has defended Fernandes’s captaincy[/caption]
Fernandes also drew criticism for his performances as captain last season – when standing in for Maguire.
He captained the side in their record 7-0 loss to Liverpool and Fernandes was criticised by fans for berating his colleagues.
The manner in which he headed towards the tunnel at the full-time whistle without acknowledging the remaining United fans was understood to have been received with particular negativity.
But former United striker Louis Saha leapt to the defence of Fernandes as captain.
Speaking to Paddy Power, Saha said “It’s too early to question Bruno Fernandes as Manchester United captain.
“I keep hearing people jump on the bandwagon and criticise them so early in the season, but everyone is allowed to have bad performances, the team has the right to do that.
“Last year Manchester United didn’t start very well either, and questioning Bruno as captain material is not on at all.
“If he scored or assisted in the first two games, no one would talk about it, it’s totally unfair.
“The team hasn’t performed, the energy level hasn’t been there, and the tactics maybe weren’t right.
“I am not sure what needs to be changed but the first two games have not been good enough.
“They need to wake up and perform the way we know they can, it’s not fair to only target Bruno.”
United will look to correct their shaky start to the season when they play Nottingham Forest at home on Saturday.