'Massively important' - Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag praises Bruno Fernandes and former captain Harry Maguire

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag praised Bruno Fernandes as "massively important" after his injury-time winner against Fulham.

United secured 1-0 win at Craven Cottage to end a run of two consecutive defeats and move into sixth place ahead of the rest of the weekend's games.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Ten Hag responded to doubts about Fernandes' suitability for the captaincy role.

He began: "It’s clear. You can score in the beginning, you can score at the end, but if you score at the end away from home it’s always the best moment, because the opponent has almost no time to come back.

"I don’t understand [doubts over Fernandes] because everyone has mistakes, no one is perfect, but he’s doing a lot of things very good and he showed every time as a captain he’s an example.

"You see today how he’s working, how he’s pressing, and then in the end he scores a goal. So he’s massively important for us."

The Dutchman was asked why it was not yet clear what his first-choice team was this season, and he explained: "Everyone knows: because we have so many injuries. Every time we have to swap, there is no routine. Then you have to be more pragmatic, but I also always said it’s not an excuse to not win games.

"The quality is there, but they have to play many more games in the same line-up and then we will play better."

He also had time to praise Harry Maguire, who had seemed set for the exit door after losing the armband to Fernandes in the summer but has since come back to prove a reliable presence in defence.

Ten Hag said the Englishman had, "not only defended, he was also with the ball very good at progressive passing, diagonal passing, through the lines, so it was a very good performance."

"I have always said he can do it but last year we had a very solid combinations and he didn’t get a chance. Now he has a chance and I said if you do well, you stay in," Ten Hag added.

"I’m sure we will improve, with players back, I think today was a solid performance. You see a foundation there and we can improve.

"You need performance and then points will come. I always want to improve the process but sometimes you have to go more pragmatic, but today it was an improved performance."

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