With the appointment of Erik Ten Hag as the new Manchester United manager, a lot has changed over the past few days. A heck load of players left the club within a month and the team is still undergoing a bold and staunch rebuild. United board is still expected to make decisions to buy new players this summer to strengthen their team and prevent themselves from experiencing a similar kind of humiliation as the previous one(2021/22).
However, for a club to function in a more efficient way, a good leader is a must. For the past few years, we have witnessed Harry Maguire as the captain of the Red Devils side but nothing positive the club has really reaped. Humiliation after humiliation has left the club shattered and at this stage, this club looks like a storm-swept land. Erik Ten Hag has a lot of players who can take this prestigious role and help him and the club reach the potential that every fan expects them to be.
Well, let’s talk about some players who can take that armband and lead the club faithfully –
David De Gea– De Gea has been phenomenal the previous season, saving United multiple times. Only because of him United was able to secure a respectable spot in the league. However, with the amount of experience gathered over the years at United and in the Premier League he can make calls that can help the team in tough situations. He is a brilliant stopper at the back and his observation at the back can help him give a better analysis about the players movement and strategies. Tomasz Kuszczak has claimed that “Man Utd goalkeeper David De Gea should replace Harry Maguire as the captain of the Red Devils from next season”
Cristiano Ronaldo – A player who has led the team to the highest level on every occasion. 37 years old and still being as one of the highest scorers in the league. His love and passion for the club are immeasurable which makes him the perfect fit to captain the club. He is a born leader. A brilliant example can be when United desperately needed a goal against Villarreal and Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League and that is exactly when Ronaldo scored the winner and the equaliser respectively in the dying minutes of the game to save the club and secure the much needed points to march into the knockouts of the competition.
Bruno Fernandes – Another probable to captain the club. Bruno Fernandes is a ferocious midfielder who is hungry for goals. Ever since his appointment as a United player, he has been one of the best midfielders in the league. Bruno has the capability to create space for the strikers to score as well as holds the perfect balance to find those spaces himself and be on the scoring sheet. He’s a versatile player who can track back when required as well as be on the attacking side of the team. We have seen this season, that during Harry Maguire s absence, it was Bruno who has captained the squad and in fact, led the club to a few victories as well.
United has a history of having gallant leaders but looking at Maguire who has struggled throughout his United career is a shame. We have seen Nemanja Vidic, Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney who has earned that armband and not just by having a price tag worth millions of pounds. Every United captain has been one of the best players of their generations but the worst part is that the board is still sticking to the same decision season after season. Erik Ten Hag’s appointment as a manager has brought a lot of joy and hope for fans around the globe. He has a lot of pressure this upcoming season and needs to sort out the captaincy role as soon as possible. A lot of tuning is required but this is one of the jobs that need to be sorted out.
