Earlier this season, Roy Keane made headlines for a merciless rant about Bruno Fernandes and his credentials as Manchester United's captain. Fernandes proved against Sheffield United exactly why he wears the armband and is recognised as comfortably the club's best signing since Robin van Persie.
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The 29-year-old midfielder showcased his quality and leadership long before Wednesday's 4-2 win against the Premier League's rock-bottom club.
Fernandes' brace and assist against the Championship-bound Blades were his seventh, eighth and ninth goal involvements in his last five appearances.
He is United's top goalscorer with 15 strikes and has provided a further 11 assists. In the Premier League, he has been more productive than Martin Odegaard and Kevin De Bruyne, among other high-profile names.
The Portuguese maestro's primary source of criticism has been his animated behaviour towards referees and opponents on the pitch, especially when things aren't going United's way.
But when it comes down to it, he has time and again proven why he is one of Europe's best attacking midfielders and why he is a worthy captain.
Most recently, Fernandes reportedly faced Sheffield United with a broken hand after suffering the injury in last Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City.
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He played all 120 minutes and scored in the penalty shootout in that one, too, and is now one win away from lifting his second piece of silverware at the club.
Erik ten Hag admitted that Fernandes was a doubt in the build-up to the Sheffield United clash. However, the ever-dangerous No. 8 is said to have insisted on playing at Old Trafford.
Since his United debut in February 2020, Fernandes remarkably hasn't missed a single game through injury, emphasising his commitment to helping the team reach its potential.
His latest commendable act made Keane's comments after a 3-0 derby defeat against Manchester City in October look silly again.
Following the one-sided match, the former Red Devils captain urged Ten Hag to strip Fernandes of the armband, which he had inherited from Harry Maguire just months earlier.
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"Today, having watched him again, I would take the captaincy off him 100 per cent," a frustrated Keane told Sky Sports.
"I know it's a big decision. Obviously, they changed the captaincy with Maguire, but Fernandes is not captain material."
He added: "Fernandes is a brilliant footballer but in terms of captain material he is the opposite to what I would want in a captain."
It's difficult to envisage the lows to which United would have stooped if Fernandes hadn't been on the team in recent years. His credentials as captain should be undisputed.
