Fernandes opens up on his leadership role at Man United

The Portuguese ace has become a talismanic presence at Manchester United and revealed how he strives to inspire the team.

Bruno Fernandes has embraced his growing importance as a leader at Old Trafford and revealed how leading by example comes naturally to him.

The former Sporting CP star has supplied an impressive 22 goals and 13 assists in only 37 appearances across all competitions. He’s not even been around for an entire year, yet he’s already viewed as a leader.

Fernandes took on the skipper’s armband for the first time in Manchester United’s 2-1 Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain in October. There have since been calls for him to replace Harry Maguire as the permanent captain.

“I think it’s something natural in me,” Fernandes told the club’s website on what makes him inspire his teammates.

“I don’t do anything like saying ‘I want to be a leader or I want to do things in a different way to someone’, it’s the natural way I have. It’s something that’s in my game.

“Sometimes you have to improve also on this because you need leadership from different players in different modes.

“For me, the point is helping everyone with my voice when I can and also with my energy and everything I do in the game to help the team.

“The most important thing for me is helping my teammates in any way I can, if it’s with my voice then it’s with my voice, if it’s with my energy then it’s with my energy.”