Micah Richards has branded Bruno Fernandes ‘pathetic’ after highlighting the Manchester United captain’s outburst towards Facundo Pellistri during Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.
Fernandes endured a tough afternoon in north London as his side were well beaten by Spurs. The Portugal international missed a sitter in the first-half and looked some way off his elegant best in a midfield that was overrun by the home side.
Having been named as permanent club captain this summer, following the removal of Harry Maguire from the role, Fernandes will be expected to lead by example. But the 28-year-old’s perceived petulance has been called into question on multiple occasions.
On Saturday, he was spotted criticising Pellistri after a United attack broke down, and Richards believes his attitude is affecting the younger players.
“It’s getting embarrassing now,” Richards told The Rest Is Football podcast. “The young lad Pellistri comes on, Fernandes is trying to get his team playing and I totally understand he’s frustrated.
“Pellistri made a run, Fernandes didn’t see him and [so] he made a different run but because he wasn’t where [Fernandes] wanted him to be, he’s going off at Pellistri.
“It’s every time. I saw an interview with him the other day and he said he needs to be emotional when he performs because it makes him play better.
“But I feel like his body language on the pitch is disturbing the rest of the team and it’s just not a good look at all. It’s pathetic at times.”
It is not the first time Fernandes has been criticised for his on-pitch antics. The midfield maestro was labelled a ‘disgrace’ by Roy Keane for a perceived lack of effort during last season’s 7-0 defeat against Liverpool. Such was the anger towards him that Fernandes was forced to address his reaction after that humbling defeat.
“If I see someone on the pitch and I’m trying to say something to them, it’s because I believe they can do better,” he said. “Sometimes I can even be giving credit to them but in the television you can’t see that.
“You see the waving of the arms, but that doesn’t mean that you’re moaning at someone. It’s sometimes the way you can express yourself on the pitch. With 75,000 at Old Trafford, it’s difficult to feel or listen to other people so you have to make gestures with your hands.”