Bruno Fernandes has been further criticised for digging out young team-mate Alejandro Garnacho following Manchester United's win over Real Sociedad.
Garnacho started up front for the Red Devils on Thursday night in a surprise move from manager Erik ten Hag. He went on to net the only goal of the game 17 minutes in when he latched onto Cristiano Ronaldo's through ball before firing high into the net.
But following the win, United stand-in captain Fernandes made it clear that Garnacho needed to improve his attitude. He criticised the Argentine for his poor approach to training sessions, which have seen his opportunities stunted this year.
"He was good, but he knows that we expect a lot from him. Obviously he's still really young, he's doing really well. He was not at his best at the beginning of the season," Fernandes told BT Sport.
"On the tour he didn't have the best attitude that he should have had, and that's why he didn't get his chances until now. He's getting his chances because he's training better, having a different attitude and deserving his chances."
In another interview with MUTV, Fernandes doubled down: "He didn't get his chances before because he was not good enough in training and not good enough mentality-wise. He's changed that, that's why he's getting chances. Everyone is really happy for him and pleased with his goal."
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But Fernandes has now been blasted for his comments by former Liverpool star Dean Saunders. The Welshman called out the midfielder for his apparent hypocrisy after he failed to criticise the likes of Ronaldo for a similarly poor attitude.
"I'm not surprised if he's got a bad attitude because of the players he's been training with for the last three or four years. There's not many with a good attitude at the club," he told talkSPORT.
"Imagine looking at watching.... well, you can name them and go right through them. He's watching [Paul] Pogba, Fernandes, he's watching all these people playing who haven't really lived up to whatever.
"I can't remember Fernandes having a go at Cristiano Ronaldo when he walked down the track, I can't remember him having a go at [Marcus] Rashford when he wasn't doing the business, or [Jadon] Sancho. I can't remember him having a go at Fred or Harry Maguire. Picking on an 18 year old, live on the TV... I think he can do that on the training pitch."
Saunders' criticism follows that of former Premier League winner Chris Sutton, who believes that Fernandes is undermining Ten Hag and branded his comments as "totally unnecessary".
"The message which I think Erik ten Hag wants coming out of Manchester United is that it’s harmonious," he told BT Sport. "I was really surprised at that. He could’ve used different language. Garnacho had a brilliant game tonight, he was the one real threat Manchester United had. I don’t get that from Bruno. He’s better than that."
