Ruben Amorim has hit back at comments of former Manchester United captain Roy Keane about current skipper Bruno Fernandes, stating his own opinion is more important as the head coach, Afrosport reports.
Keane, speaking on The Overlap, was critical of Fernandes as United captain, asserting he did not have the personality to wear the armband.
Amorim, however, speaking ahead of United’s FA Cup fifth-round tie with Fulham, leapt to the defence of his compatriot, asserting he is having to deal with a lot of frustration from the club’s run of inconsistent results, often being the one to bail the team out.
“I heard about that. I have a different opinion. Bruno is really important for us and the club. He is playing well in a difficult context. He wants always the responsibility,” he said.
“I know sometimes as a captain he does things with his arms but most of all it is a lot of frustration for this year and the last year. He wants to win and sometimes it is hard to deal with that frustration.
“Everyone has an opinion. Roy Keane has big standards from his time at the club and it is normal to have an opinion. I have an opposite opinion and I think my opinion is more important than Roy Keane’s because I am the coach.”
Another dangerous delivery from our set-piece specialist 🤌
🪄 @B_Fernandes8#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 28, 2025
Earlier in the week, former United boss Erik ten Hag said modern players have a problem dealing with criticism, and Amorim echoed some of the Dutchman’s thoughts.
“I think it’s completely different for players now,” he added. “Before it was just newspapers and nothing more. With social media it is completely different. You cannot go on social media without seeing news or a photo or if you read something bad then you focus on that. You can have 100 good things but one bad thing and you will focus on that.
“I think it is really hard for them. You can call it soft but they have access to criticism that is hard to deal with. They need help to deal with that. It’s modern football and they have to be prepared for that.”
United are off a 3-2 midweek win over Ipswich Town which sees them in 14th place, 16 points clear of the relegation zone.
