Erik ten Hag will now need to select a new captain, and Berbatov has suggested Rashford because he thinks the under-fire striker will do more wonders. Bruno Fernandes received his fifth booking of the year during last weekend’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford, so he won’t be at Sunday’s matchup with the Reds.
Liverpool are in stellar form this season at the Premier League standings right now thanks to their incredible season-long play. They have lost just once in 16 matches and boast of having the meanest defence in the league, along with Arsenal, with just 15 goals conceded. Michael Owen, a former striker for Liverpool and United, responded to this by making fun of Fernandes and implying that he might not have wanted to travel to Merseyside and thus received a booking.
Speaking to Betfair, Berbatov said: “We know the club captain (Bruno Fernandes) is not playing, that’s another problem to deal with. Man United will have to hope whoever comes into his place can do the job, but it’s a big blow for them. The question is, who leads the side at Anfield? I don’t know how Erik ten Hag is thinking about this situation.”
“Who deserves the captain’s armband more, the experienced players like Jonny Evans or Raphael Varane, or someone younger and hungry like Scott McTominay? Who can prove they can lead the team?Sometimes, how to deal with a player who is going through a difficult patch of form, it’s good to show them faith. Marcus Rashford needs to be shown faith, maybe he should be captain for the game, and it can be a final test for him to lead the team.”
“Rashford could realise that this is his chance to be a leader and the main star at Man United. These moments can elevate players, they just need an arm around their shoulders. This would be a point where Rashford realises football is not a fairytale, it’s real life and that he needs to grow up to be the main man for the club. I have witnessed players who needed this opportunity, it’s happened to me in my career too, sometimes you need these gestures.”
Fernandes has been booked 29 times through 140 appearances in the Premier League but is yet to receive a marching order. Since Harry Maguire is also out with an injury, it is unclear if Rashford will actually receive the armband. Throughout this season, the English international has been struggling offensively, scoring just twice in 15 Premier League games.
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