Fernandes was criticized for not being worthy of being the captain of Man Utd
After the 0-2 loss at Tottenham in the second round of the English Premier League, Fernandes asked the Premier League organizers to apologize for the situation when Man Utd was denied a penalty. Controversial situation came in the 27th minute, when the score was 0-0, Alejandro Garnacho shot from the edge of the penalty area into the hand of midfielder Cristian Romero. Romero's hand was then stretched out and not close to his body, blocking the way the ball could go towards the goal, but the referee Michael Oliver and the VAR team did not give Man Utd a penalty.
On the podcast 'It's All Kicking Off', Sutton said that the referee team was not responsible for Man Utd's defeat. "Fernandes first needs to improve his own and the team's performances, before judging the referees and their decisions," the former England striker said.
Before the new season, coach Erik ten Hag chose Fernandes to be the club's new captain instead of Harry Maguire - the centre-back could no longer keep the main kick. However, Sutton believes that Fernandes lacks the leadership qualities to captain Man Utd. According to the former striker who won the English Premier League with Blackburn in 1995, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw or Casemiro are more suitable options for the leadership position of Man Utd.
Sutton continued: "It is the responsibility of the captain and the bottom line is the first two performances of Man Utd's new season. They are still the same as last season, as if stuck in pre-season. . Fernandes should have appeared, showing better leadership qualities, instead of blaming the referee."
Sharing his views, Richards criticized Fernandes for overreacting on the field and having a bad impact on teammates. The former England defender was also dissatisfied with the situation where Fernandes scolded his 21-year-old junior Facundo Pellistri at the end of the Tottenham defeat.
"It's embarrassing," Richards told the podcast The Rest Is Football. "Pellistri came on when Man Utd were losing, Fernandes tried to help the team play better and I completely understand he was frustrated. Pellistri ran but Fernandes couldn't see. Then Pellistri moved to another position and wasn't there. right where Fernandes wanted. Since then, Fernandes has scolded his juniors. Always."
It's not the first time Fernandes has been criticized for overreacting on the pitch. Many Man Utd players are said to be dissatisfied with the Portuguese midfielder's attitude and behavior in the 0-7 defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League, and do not want him to keep the captaincy of the team.
"I feel like Fernandes' body language is bothering the rest of the team and it's not a pretty image. Sometimes it's pathetic," Richards insisted.
Meanwhile, former striker Dimitar Berbatov thinks Man Utd performed well in the first half against Tottenham, but could not get ahead as Marcus Rashford and Fernandes squandered two clear opportunities. The Bulgarian player expects the $94 million rookie Rasmus Hojlund to recover from his injury soon and play for Rashford to return to his forte left wing. Berbatov also wants the "Red Devils" to recruit a defensive midfielder to share interception duties with Casemiro.
