Ole Gunnar Solskjaer surprises Bruno Fernandes with Manchester United captaincy before Paris Saint-Germain tie
Midfielder will lead the team in the absence of the injured Harry Maguire
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Your support makes all the difference.Bruno Fernandes was visibly surprised on Monday when coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – while sitting next to the midfielder – revealed that the Portugal international would captain Manchester United against Paris Saint-Germain.
United travel to the French capital for the group-stage Champions League fixture on Tuesday evening, when Fernandes will wear the captain’s armband for the Red Devils for the first time in the absence of injured defender Harry Maguire.
Fernandes captained Sporting Lisbon before completing his move to Old Trafford in January, but was still stunned to find out the news – at the same time as the press, who were on a Zoom call with the midfielder and Solskjaer when the latter made the announcement.
When asked who would captain the side on Tuesday night, Solskjaer replied: “The captain sits next to me. Bruno will captain the team tomorrow.”
Fernandes then exclaimed: “I was not expecting this! I found out this the same time as you!
“It is an honour and an important achievement for me.
“But the captain is everyone – everyone needs to help and be a leader in their way.”
The last time United took on PSG, the Premier League side progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League in dramatic fashion.
In the 2018/19 edition of the competition, PSG were 2-0 winners at Old Trafford in the first leg of the clubs’ last-16 tie, but Marcus Rashford emphatically netted from the penalty spot with the last kick of the second leg in Paris to guarantee United’s passage into the final eight.
PSG seemingly overcame their mental block in the tournament last season, however, finally making it past the quarter-finals for the first time.
They ultimately finished runners-up to Bayern Munich in August, losing 1-0 in the final in Lisbon, a week after United lost their Europa League semi-final against eventual winners Sevilla.
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