Manchester United

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Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane has claimed "talent is not enough" for club captain Bruno Fernandes, who he also believes is "not a fighter".

Fernandes, 30, has arguably been the most successful signing of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era and was handed the armband in July 2023 by ex-manager Erik ten Hag.

Current head coach Ruben Amorim praised "special player" Fernandes for his role in Wednesday's hard-fought 3-2 win at home to Ipswich. The Portugal international also played a key part in United's 2-2 comeback draw at Everton.

However, former United captain Keane slammed Fernandes and got into a heated argument with Ian Wright about the playmaker on The Overlap podcast.

"Save us? They're 15th in the league and he's saving them? Praise the lord," the ex-Republic of Ireland international said.

"You have to have a starting point. I go back to it all - talent is not enough. Bruno's a talented player, but talent's not enough."

Former Arsenal forward Wright's attempts to defend Fernandes further angered Keane, who added: "You talk to me [about] who you were in a dressing room with. 'Tony Adams was this', 'Tony Adams was that'. Yeah, because he was a fighter. Bruno's not a fighter.

"You've got young players. You have to look at somebody and go 'I like what he does'.

"They all can't put the ball in the top of the net from 25 yards, I get that. But you want someone who is going 'lads, are you with me?"'

Wright claimed that "if Bruno's not there, United are in the relegation places" and temperatures rose as Keane returned to former Arsenal captain Adams.

When Wright said that was the skipper he was used to, Keane shouted: "Yeah, yeah, of course. That's the captain we expect!

"Was Tony Adams the most talented player in that Arsenal dressing room? So, why do you look up to Tony Adams and go 'listen, I've got a lot of time for him'?

"And what did he do with his leadership? Leadership is action. Leadership to me is about action."

United sit 14th in the Premier League and return to action on Sunday at home to Fulham in the FA Cup fifth round.

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Ruben Amorim said he would be speaking with Alejandro Garnacho after the forward headed straight down the tunnel upon his first-half substitution against Ipswich Town.

Earlier on Thursday, we asked for your thoughts on Garnacho's reaction and we have been inundated with replies about him.

Here is a flavour of both sides...

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Here are some from those of you who think Garnacho did not act correctly:

Terry: I understand his frustration, but someone had to come off. Make your feelings known, but react in a professional manner and sit with your team mates in the dugout.

Chris: Garnacho has put his ego before the team, just like so many of his now former team-mates. The case with Cristiano Ronaldo caused a stir mainly due to the magnitude of the name he carries; however Garnacho does not carry that impetus. He needs to grow up and understand that his leverage with the club is small. Football is a team game and the reason why Liverpool are successful this season is on the basis of very competent players working as a well-oiled machine together.

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John: A fine line between passion and arrogance. If I were his team-mate then I would justifiably be annoyed with Garnacho who seems to put himself on a higher pedestal than is warranted. Play for the team, stand down your ego, work harder to prove yourself and you will play every game!

Matthew: Good player but always seems to want to make it about himself. The gaffer had to make a tough call and his team have just won 3-2 with 10 men. That should be his priority.

Graham: He is getting too big for his boots. Still needs to improve decision-making on field (and probably off too!) Should be someone who plays for us for years but behaviour like this might mean we cash in as a sale will be all profit!

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Here are some thoughts from those more sympathetic with Alejandro Garnacho.

Maurice: I completely understand him. He is the best of our current forwards and everyone knows it. You could see the difference he made when coming on against Everton and while he was playing yesterday. The invisible Rasmus Hojlund should have come off. If Ruben Amorim doesn't show Garnacho respect I wouldn't blame him if he wanted to leave.

Phill: He's a kid - subbed off. I like that it frustrated him as it shows he wants to play. Social media thing was daft, but otherwise no blame at all.

Gary: Yet again a drama because it's Man Utd. The lad was disappointed at being substituted which shows his passion. I don't see this as a big deal but, because it's us, it's back page news. He's 20. People forget this

Peter: No, he didn't cross any kind of line. He is a young man with big ambitions who was having a really positive game where he felt he would get a goal. It must have been galling to end up having to go off and he probably needed to vent his frustration privately. He shows up every time he plays, so he is entitled to that, I think. A more experienced pro might have been able to process it in public, but I doubt I could have, at his age. Next game will be the one, Alejandro!

Calvin: It did not annoy me, it kind of shows how annoyed he was at getting taken off and Amorim is messing around with him in and out of the team. I am more annoyed he was subbed off.

Read above to hear from fans who weren't happy with his behaviour

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Journalist

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Alejandro Garnacho will be happy that his Manchester United team-mates held their nerve against Ipswich, but it was a night to forget for him individually.

The 20 year-old was the one to catch the collateral damage of Patrick Dorgu's red card when he was replaced by Noussair Mazraoui just before half-time. Some in Old Trafford were surprised it was Garnacho who was taken off instead of Rasmus Hojlund.

Instead of joining his team-mates on the bench, Garnacho followed Dorgu down the tunnel, which has ruffled the feathers of some of the United faithful. An image he posted to his Instagram story after the match of himself heading to the tunnel has only added fuel to the fire in the aftermath.

Garnacho's behaviour reminded some of a pre-season game in 2022 when Cristiano Ronaldo left Old Trafford early after he was substituted at half-time. Ronaldo's actions were arguably more contentious than Garnacho's, but given that the Argentine has made no secret of idolising Ronaldo in the past - has he been following his hero a little too closely?

Erik ten Hag warned Ronaldo about his behaviour in pre-season, but that didn't stop him from refusing to come on as a substitute in a league game against Tottenham a few months later. This sequence of events was the beginning of the end of his second stint at United, which ended with the termination of his contract in November 2022.

Ruben Amorim told the media after Wednesday's victory that he will speak to his player privately about Wednesday's incident - and it is not the first time he has taken issue with the winger. It was only two months ago that Garnacho was dropped for the Manchester derby, but the exact reasons for that omission are still unclear to this day.

If Garnacho steps out of line again, like his hero did three years prior, it could be curtains on his career at Old Trafford.

What do you make of the Garnacho situation, United fans? Do you think it's being over-exaggerated, or was he out of line? Should he face consequences for his behaviour?

Let us know your thoughts on Garnacho here

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We asked for your views on Manchester United's victory over Ipswich.

Here are some of your comments:

Peter: Not the start you'd hope for but after a little while Manchester United took control and played the best football for a long while. The sending off changed the game and it was all about heart and the will to fight which they showed in abundance.

Paul: After I've made various comments about team performances and lack of effort, it's nice to get a win with a fighting performance when down to 10 men. But can I please make a request to Ruben Amorim to please, please drop Andre Onana he's just not of a standard for the Premier League.

Mike: Slightly better than previous games but against Ipswich, it should have been much better. Can't understand why Rasmus Hojlund wasn't taken off instead of Alejandro Garnacho.

Slim: There were some glimpses of tempo. We have some mentality as a team, the ambition is there but we are just not that clinical or maybe there is some level of lacking in determination.

Iain: Patrick Dorgu's red card was unlucky in the sense he was too enthusiastic - in most of the games he's played since arriving, he's shown his athleticism and has definitely been one of our better players. He'll be missed while he's suspended.

Oete: Proper team display despite the manager's shortcomings. We fought for each other but we need to drop Onana he makes the team nervous. We have to be realistic - Ipswich are a bottom-three team - but it was an encouraging performance.

Manchester United would have to pay a total of £20m to head coach Ruben Amorim and his backroom staff if the club chose to sack them. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, speaking to TNT Sports: "Today I'm not frustrated. We controlled the game and since the first minute I felt the players were trying to play and we managed to score two goals.

"The sending off changed the game a bit but the fight the fans showed and the fans helped a lot and we fully deserved the three points.

"There are some moments that are really hard but that's natural in every profession, you need to suffer."

On Patrick Dorgu, who was at fault for a goal and then got sent off: "Players can have a mistake like Patrick today. The sending off, he wants to play the ball.

"He is ready for the Premier League. Last week he had a good performance against Everton, today they [the critics] will say he is not experienced enough for the Premier League, but I don't feel that way."

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Manchester United have won 110 Premier League matches after conceding the first goal, the most of any side in history.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Man Utd's performance

What did you make of Ipswich's display?

Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

Five matches make up Wednesday's Premier League action

• Brentford v Everton

• Man Utd v Ipswich

• Nottingham Forest v Arsenal

• Tottenham v Man City

• Liverpool v Newcastle (20:15)

All kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

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In a troubled season for Manchester United, their lack of goals has been one of the biggest concerns.

United have scored 30 goals in their 26 Premier League games so far this season, with striker Rasmus Hojlund only netting twice.

The 22-year-old has faced criticism for his numbers in recent weeks, but manager Ruben Amorim blames a lack of service from the rest of the team rather than it being "a Rasmus thing".

"It's clear, as a team, we are not helping Rasmus," said Amorim. "We don't create a lot of chances.

"Rasmus has a lot of potential. If we improve the way we play the game, he will have more opportunities to score. He came here very young and, when you are very young, to be the number nine and play all the time sometimes is hard.

"We have to look as Rasmus as a player: he has the pace, he has the technique, he scores some goals that are really hard to score. Sometimes he doesn't choose the better runs, sometimes he's so anxious to touch the ball because there are long minutes without the ball and he moves away from the goal.

"We address that in training. He has the ability - he already showed that here - but I think it's more a team thing than a Rasmus thing."

Listen to Amorim's response on Hojlund's numbers on BBC Sounds

Alex Turk
Fan writer

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Manchester United are near the depths of the Premier League for a reason. The brutal reality is that they will remain there unless a new striker is leading the line next season.

And I'm not talking about another "long-term investment". United do not need another raw striker aged between 20 and 23 with just one season of goalscoring on their resume.

United are crying out for a seasoned frontman who is nearing or in the peak of their powers and will guarantee at least 15 league goals per season.

A top-five finish looks increasingly likely to be enough to qualify for next season's Champions League. Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth are among the clubs vying to compete against Europe's elite.

Meanwhile, the most striking fifth-place standing you can associate United with this term is on the rankings for the top flight's worst attacks.

Only Everton and relegation-destined Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton have lacked bite in the box more than Erik ten Hag, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ruben Amorim's attack.

And you do not have to boast industry-leading analytical prowess to understand why that is the case.

Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho are the only senior forwards at Amorim's disposal for the rest of the season.

Amad Diallo is ruled out with ankle ligament damage, while United could not replace winter loan exits Marcus Rashford and Antony amid severe financial constraints.

Hojlund has not scored a goal in his past 16 appearances. Garnacho's drought extends to 19 matches. He has not been assisting much either.

If you revisit Zirkzee's previous 19 outings, you will watch two strikes. It is hardly a Golden Boot-winning rate, is it?

Minimal service? Sure. But United's chance-conversion rate is another metric among the Premier League's most damning.

Ineos simply cannot afford to follow suit and misfire this summer.

Find more from Alex Turk at Stretford Paddock, external

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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In his chat with SEG Stories' YouTube channel, Erik ten Hag does not discuss the detail around his time at Manchester United, what he thinks about Sir Jim Ratcliffe or the rationale behind some of the players he signed for instance.

However, he does reflect on his two and a bit years at Old Trafford with fondness, particularly when it comes to the club's supporters.

"I enjoyed it very much," he said. "English football, the fans. I've said it before the fans are so committed to the club, so loyal to the club, so dedicated and so loyal to the team to our staff, to me as manager. I can only be grateful for that.

"We also gave them something. We gave them two prizes, after six years of drought.

"I was appreciated and I always felt that when I walked the streets of Manchester."

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We asked you to tell us an issue no-one is talking about at Manchester United.

Here are some of your replies:

Remi: Alejandro Garnacho hasn't scored in his past 19 games. I don't even think this is a huge issue on his part, he clearly plays well enough to stay in the squad, but if he can go on that kind of goal drought and stay... why couldn't Marcus Rashford?

Mike: How bad is Bruno Fernandes? How many times does he give the ball away seeking the killer pass from all over the pitch? Attempting that gets them into trouble more often than not!

Martyn: The fact Altay Bayindir is actually wearing the number one shirt but isn't actually our first-choice goalkeeper. Every time Bayindir has started a match he has been pretty solid. Andre Onana, on the other hand, makes everyone nervous! It is time Bayindir was given more game time and Onana dropped to the bench.

Pete: Kobbie Mainoo. His performances recently have been seriously under par, and the only time he has looked vaguely quality was as a number 10 in the Europa League. What has happened to the young defensive midfielder we saw at first? He looks slow and heavy - almost a different player.

Will: Ineos' first transfer window last summer was a success. Matthijs De Ligt, Manuel Ugarte, Noussair Mazraoui and recently Joshua Zirkzee have been the best of a bad bunch this season. I don't think people realise that if every summer window brings in four or five solid players that work hard for the coach, we will win more and more. Ineos are not perfect but they do at least do transfer business better than the Glazers.

Manchester United drew at Ipswich in November, in Ruben Amorim's first game in charge.

Three months on, Ipswich will head to Old Trafford thinking they have a decent chance of beating them. No-one fears United at the moment.

You just do not know which United side is going to turn up and, in the first half against Everton on Saturday, they were absolutely woeful.

United do deserve some credit for the way they fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Goodison Park - but I am not convinced by them at all.

Ipswich ended up losing 4-1 to Tottenham at the weekend but they created a ridiculous amount of chances in that game, and they will get opportunities here too because Liam Delap is such a handful.

A win for the Tractor Boys would be huge, especially now the gap to fourth-bottom Wolves has grown to five points, but despite United's many problems I just have a feeling Amorim will get a win, somehow.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here