JOE BERNSTEIN: Bruno Fernandes is a different captain to Man United icons Robson, Keane and Rooney

The best Manchester United captains have traditionally been macho men who played like servants on red meat and Guinness. Warriors like Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Roy Keane and Wayne Rooney.

Bruno Fernandes is not like that – his nickname is The Squirrel instead of Captain Marvel – but Erik ten Hag has identified him as the right leader for his modern United. So far, his judgment seems spot on.

It wasn’t that long ago that Bruno’s whining was getting everyone down, including Gary Neville. The perception was that he could not thrive in the same team as Cristiano Ronaldo. The assumption was that he had had to leave Old Trafford so the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could stay. Mistaken!

Instead, Ronaldo has been flown by ten Hag to Saudi Arabia and Bruno has been promoted to carry the bracelet with Harry Maguire sidelined. The Portuguese playmaker hardly ever rests, he’s started 36 of United’s 39 games this season and has almost never been substituted.

He has earned the respect of former United greats like Paul Scholes for sacrificing himself for the team, playing on the right side of a 4-2-3-1 when necessary. And the results have been spectacular.

Bruno Fernandes is a different type of captain than Roy Keane and Wayne Rooney.

Steve Bruce, Bryan Robson and Keane were famously feisty captains in Manchester United’s most successful era.

United are unbeaten in nine and still in the running for four trophies. After eliminating Barcelona in the Europa League on Thursday night, they will face Newcastle United on Sunday in the Carabao Cup final.

If they win, it will be their first award since Rooney lifted the 2017 Europa League in his last appearance for the club. Then the comparisons to a return to the Fergie era and the prospect of a quad can begin in earnest.

Bruno is not perfect and some of those imperfections were on display against Barça. He missed a one-on-one against Marc-Andre ter Stegen and then gave away a penalty for a reckless pull on Alejandro Balde.

His pass completion rate is never among the highest, but that’s because he has the courage and ability to take chances on the tough.

You can define matches. Two brilliant set-ups from Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho at the weekend led to United’s Premier League victory against Leicester.

Erik ten Hag has identified the perfect captain for this modern United team in the absence of Harry Maguire

Fernandes had previously turned down a glorious early chance to put United ahead on such a crucial night at Old Trafford.

But the night’s captain then set up Fred’s equalizer just after half time to start the comeback.

He also made the assist for Fred’s equalizer against Barca and has now been involved in 25 European goals since 2020, putting him in a very elite group with Robert Lewandowski, Kylian Mbappe, Mo Salah and Karem Benzema.

Ten Hag likes that adventure in their leader, having a creative captain.

I like speed. I like dynamic football. I like football that entertains people. I don’t like static football, I don’t like boring football’, said the coach after reaching the round of 16.

‘We have great personalities. Bruno is a winning guy, just like David (de Gea), Rapha (Varane), Licha (Lisandro Martínez), Casemiro. They all have such a strong belief and fight on this team.’

Ten Hag makes an interesting point. United have several natural captains on their team these days. However, Bruno is the man most trusted to be the official leader.

The Argentine Lisandro Martínez has established himself as one of the most important players of the team.

The Red Devils have lost two of the three games Fernandes has missed so far this season.

Maguire (right) is the club’s captain but has struggled to break the partnership of Martinez and Raphael Varane at the back.

Of the three games they have missed this season, United have lost two. His style is different from that of Keane and Robson, but his contribution to helping the club turn around his fortunes indicates that he is a worthy successor.

And one thing he shares with them is a relentless pursuit of victory.

Minutes after completing the famous victory against Barça, Bruno was on the pitch being interviewed and already thinking about the next challenge at Wembley.

“The club is made of comebacks like this,” he began, before adding: “Obviously it’s a great result for us, but now we have a great game on Sunday.”