Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes may have had good intentions with an act towards Erik ten Hag, but Roy Keane was not having any of it.
Ten Hag was relieved of his duties as United boss on October 28 having overseen the club’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season.
It brought an end to a tumultuous two-year spell in which he won two trophies but also included a worrying eighth-place finish in the league last term – United’s worst-ever finish in the Premier League era.
Although much of the blame lay at the feet of the Dutchman, questions were asked of the players’ efforts, especially towards the end of his reign.
United’s 5-2 thrashing of Leicester City, two days after Ten Hag’s dismissal in the Carabao Cup did little to dismiss that notion, especially since it was interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge.
Van Nistelrooy also led the Red Devils to a 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday in which Fernandes scored his first league goal of the campaign.
Speaking after the contest, Fernandes revealed to Sky Sports he had apologised to Ten Hag since the axing and wanted his former boss to know he ‘always gave my 100 per cent to help him’.
“We all know that when the manager leaves, everyone is involved, but only one pays because it’s easier to get rid of a manager than 10 or 15 players,” Fernandes said.
“I spoke with the manager. I spoke with him and I did also apologise to him to ask if there was something I could have done better for him; that I feel really disappointed that he is gone.
“But obviously what remains with me is I will give everything and I will try to help in any way possible. Obviously I wasn’t scoring goals and that’s a big thing for me and the team. We’re not scoring many goals and I feel a big responsibility on that because I’m normally a player that scores lots of goals and give a lot of assists and it was not coming.
“So I feel disappointed on that but I always gave my 100 per cent to help him. The main thing for me is that he is aware of that and it’s something at least I can keep in my head.”
Fernandes added Ten Hag’s sacking ‘is not good for anyone’ as it proves the team is not where it should be.
“We are all disappointed by that whenever you see a manager go you have to take a little bit of the blame on yourself,” Fernandes said.
“You need to look at the mirror first because if he goes, it is because the team is not doing so well. Everyone as an individual has to look at themselves first.”
Despite Fernandes’ heart being in the right place by apologising to Ten Hag, Keane was not having it.
The Irishman took aim at the United skipper’s leadership qualities and felt he could and should have done more to help Ten Hag avoid the sack.
“Too little, too late,” Keane told Sky Sports in reaction to Fernandes’ comments.
“I wouldn’t have much time and patience for that, for a player to say sorry we let you down. Too little, too late.
“You’re judged by what you do on the football pitch and I don’t think Bruno had done enough and didn’t show that leadership.”
Sporting boss Ruben Amorim is the man tasked with taking over from Ten Hag and will officially begin on November 11.
Fernandes, who joined United from Sporting in January 2020, is an admirer of Amorim’s accomplishments at his former club and hailed the 39-year-old’s ability to build a positive atmosphere.
“I am a big fan of Sporting and watch a lot of their games,” Fernandes said.
“Ruben Amorim brought the excitement back to the club. It was a little bit split when he came [to Sporting].
“He transformed everything and brought everyone together.”
