Bruno Fernandes details Manchester United ‘leadership group’ handpicked by Ruben Amorim: “Whoever steps out of line will have problems” | OneFootball

Whisper it quietly, but there is a cautious optimism around Manchester United that the English giants may finally be addressing the long-standing issues that have led to their recent decline.

Despite last season’s disastrous and humiliating 15th-place finish in the Premier League; despite a 12-year league title drought – a sense is growing that new owners INEOS are making long overdue changes that will benefit the Red Devils in the long-term.

United have spent twenty years under the ownership of the Glazer family, who bought the club in a leveraged takeover during the glory years of Alex Ferguson. However, in the 12 years since Ferguson’s retirement, the incompetence of the American owners relating to footballing matters and a perceived lack of ambition, allied to £1bn in debt payments and dividends, has gradually worn the club and its fans down.

The Glazers remain the majority shareholders, but INEOS, led by local-born billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, have taken charge of running the football side of the club since early last year. There has already been a raft of changes, including overhauling the club hierarchy, renovating the training ground and implementing plans for a £2bn stadium to replace Old Trafford.

The new men in charge are fiercely ambitions, and their first appointment as manager, Ruben Amorim, was plucked from Sporting last autumn to lead the new era. Amorim, at just 39, was seen as a long-term choice, with United reportedly certain in their faith in the Portuguese despite no improvement in results last term.

Cultural reset

This summer, Amorin has finally been able to work thoroughly with the players on the training ground. A new forward line has also been brought in, with Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo costing in excess of €200m. Yet, it is the greater unity and bond within the camp which has been a talking point amongst fans over recent weeks.

United looked physically sharper in pre-season, but reports of sterner discipline has been a positive the supporters have afforded just as much attention. Veteran defender Luke Shaw made headlines during the recent tour of the United States by stating that there are “no stragglers” in the United camp now.

Amorim and the technical staff made the decision to isolate a handful of players deemed to not be part of the club’s plans. Big names on big contracts, such as Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho, as well as young starlet Alejando Garnacho, were excluded from both training and the pre-season tour, with the implication that they find new clubs.

Garnacho, who is expected to join Chelse before the transfer window ends, was widely reported to have been told directly by Amorim in front of teammates in May to let his agent find him a new home, after the younger breached yet another disciplinary line by criticising his omission from the Europa League final line-up.

Leadership group

The feeling among fans is that Amorim is embarking on a long overdue cultural reset. One of the most reported aspects of the move has been the notion of a ‘Leadership group’ of six players, selected by Amorim, who will be responsible for helping oversee better discipline. The players are also believed to have agreed a new code of conduct, with some suggestions the commitment to the rules has even been made in writing.

The six players chosen by Amorim include two Portuguese: captain Bruno Fernandes and defender Diogo Dalot, who has been with the club since the age of 18. Veteran goalkeeper and academy graduate Tom Heaton, ex-skipper Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui make up the other members of the group.

Fernandes spoke to Sky Sports on Friday about the expectations of the stated players in helping the manager control the dressing room. “The atmosphere in the pre-season tour was very good,” said the former Sporting man. “It was something the team probably needed, also for the ones who just came to the club. I can say that you feel a different atmosphere.

“We are all in the same path, in the same line. We know what we want from the season, where we have to go. We know the line we have drawn for ourselves and if someone steps out of that line, they’re going to have consequences.

“I think that’s a very important thing because in the past, we probably thought that even if you step outside the line a bit, you’ll be okay. But now we’ve spoken, not only the manager, but the players have also  spoken. We’ve said what is the minimum standard that we need and whoever steps out of this will have problems. Not only with the staff, but also with the teammates.

“If you create this group of six players who can get into every small group in the dressing room, because it’s normal to have more bond with some people than others, that will happen not only in football but in life. So, the way the manager chose the six players is that he knows he can get to every spot in the dressing room to get the best out of everyone.

“Obviously, everyone in that group has different ways of leading, different ways of dealing with problems. It was something I was doing in the past, but probably it gets to a point where my voice gets a little tiring for them, with always the same one talking. Having another five players with me talking and saying things will make things different.

“Doing TV after bad results? I’m not afraid of coming out in bad moments. It being me most of the times isn’t good for my image, but I know how difficult it is to come out to the media and the critics. I don’t mind at all. But I want it to be spread with everyone, not just the leadership group, because we can’t have players who only want to talk when we win or they have a good game, but when things are going wrong, they don’t want to talk. I want a balance in there.”

I still have dreams here

Bruno was also asked about his decision to turn down a big-money move to Saudi Arabia in the summer. The 31-year-old was pursued by Al Hilal, who were reported to have offer astronomical wages, but Fernandes opted to stay at United, where he believes he has unfinished business. The midfielder also hopes that there will be less focus on his own exploits this term, as it will mean the team is doing better.

“I haven’t fulfilled my dreams here yet. I think I can still give something to the club and be helpful. I’ve always said I’ll be here until the club says it’s time to go. Obviously, I know it was tough on the club to decide that, because it was such a big amount of money, they didn’t get so much money for a player since Cristiano left [in 2009] probably.

“I know it was tough on the club. On one side they had the club captain, a player who has been important for them, even if times had not been great, I’ve been performing and everything. And I know in the public’s eye it will be bad if things go wrong, and it would have been good if they sell me, get more players and whatever.

“In my mind, I’ve always said this is the place I want to be. For me, it’s the biggest league in the world and I want to stay and fulfil my dreams. I know people will have different opinion: ‘He’s 30 years old; he’s getting old’ but I still can run, I still can fight, score goals, help my teammates. I can still do everything I did five years ago when I came and everyone was very excited with me.

“With a different role in many occasions. We will probably even hear less talk about Bruno and more talk about the team. This is why I want to stay here, because I want the team to succeed. I don’t want to be in the shadow, but I know other players now will step up and show why they are at Man United.

"I hope you'll hear less about Bruno this year, but a lot more about United. That's my main objective because my name being spoken, let's say vaguely alone, It doesn't fill me with pride or anything.

"United being talked about, being positive, that's the most important thing and that's what I want for this season.

"If it happens that Bruno has to score fewer goals, provide less assists or do another type of provision of what is necessary for the games, I would be very happy."

United’s renewed positivity will be tested by a tough start to the campaign. Amorim’s side welcome perennial Premier League runners-up Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday, and will also face Chelsea, Manchester City and champions Liverpool during their first eight matches of the new league season.