COMMENT: It was the clear choice. The obvious choice. But also the right choice. Bruno Fernandes is the new captain of Manchester United...

For some clubs. For their managers. It's a token. A nominee to front up for the coin toss. Just Saturday, Mauricio Pochettino declared, "I don't really care," when pushed about a new captain of Chelsea after Cesar Azpilicueta's departure for Atletico Madrid. But at United (and Poch should get a grip and recognise the same exists at Chelsea) the captaincy matters. The status. The history. It's stuff for the ages. And Erik ten Hag has chosen right in Fernandes.

Charlton. Robson. Keane. Fernandes... yeah, that sounds legit. It fits. He fits. United's best player for the past three years. A player to set standards. Drive a culture. To lift. Inspire. Cajole. Fernandes is that player. As we say, it was the obvious choice, but the right one.

Of course the handover was messy. Harry Maguire giving up the armband reluctantly. Ten Hag essentially having to rip it away from the England defender. Again, this matters for Ten Hag. Another manager wouldn't have bothered, justifying the decision with glib, modern-day talk of leadership groups and shared responsibility. But that isn't Manchester United. That's not how this club works. Bryan Robson against Diego Maradona and Barcelona. Steve Bruce's double against Sheffield Wednesday. Roy Keane at Juventus. The individual. The leader. The inspiration. This is what this club is built upon. Myth. Legend. Ten Hag knows this. He understands it. But most importantly, he agrees with it. Ten Hag wants his captain to lead from the front. And he knows he'll get that with Fernandes.

The Portugal international was back to his best last season under Ten Hag. The Dutchman almost immediately recognising the influence and importance of Fernandes on his newly inherited playing group. It wasn't Cristiano Ronaldo or Maguire he'd bounce ideas off in those early weeks, but Fernandes. Never mind behind closed doors, any regular observer of United training will know of the regular chats the manager and his No8 would hold last season. The mutual respect being forged just days into that first Ten Hag preseason a year ago.

Of course, not all will be happy. The fans will be... Well, at least the ones that Gary Neville doesn't speak for. The former United captain (it's now over 12 years since he last played) claimed last season the support didn't like Fernandes. They didn't like the "arm waving", so he said. This came after United's meltdown against Liverpool, where Neville branded Fernandes a "disgrace" and an "embarrassment".

And from there it was basically cue the pile on. Other pundits had their go. There were calls for Fernandes to be sold. Claims Ten Hag would be turning to others to lead the team in Maguire's absence. Your typical hysterical, click-baiting stuff...

Because that's what it was. Fernandes was never going to be sold. Ten Hag was never going to rethink his plans. And his teammates were never going to turn on him. It was essentially your typical Manchester United flyer. Drive some clicks. Make some headlines. Grift, grift, grift. And all at the expense of the man in question.

Indeed, at the time, Ten Hag made it abundantly clear where he and Fernandes stood. And as we've stated in past columns, there's no need for second guessing when it comes to Ten Hag. What the manager says in public is the same as he feels in private.

"He is fantastic. He has [had] a fantastic season so far and firstly he is an example," declared Ten Hag in April. “He gives so much energy to the team, but he is taking so much responsibility and pushing the team, but often by example.

“Not only by coaching, by example and he is so good in transitional moments. Of course, in the final third, he is continually a threat," Ten Hag continues.

“In possession, he is always available to receive the ball. He is always an option and almost every time, he has the right solution.

“I am so happy with Bruno in my team, and I think he's made a massive improvement during the season, and I hope he can continue this."

An on-the-field manager. A player who never hides. And one who has responded to the new management team's coaching. Ten Hag back then laying out why he was planning to make Fernandes his new permanent skipper.

Fast forward to today and Fernandes, as captain, now has a choice to make. The latest being that Fernandes will blank Neville for any interviews over the coming season. However, this column doesn't see that happening. Fernandes just isn't that personality. He won't like it. He won't invite it. But Fernandes will put duty over personal feelings and take questions from Neville. After all, it's his club now. His dressing room. And as we say, Neville, as a United player, is now a fading 12-year memory.

Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United captain? It sounds right. It fits. Indeed, was it really any surprise that United's first goalscorer under the new captain was Fernandes, himself, against Arsenal in New Jersey?

It fits. He fits. Bruno Fernandes as Manchester United captain was the obvious choice for Erik ten Hag. But also the right one.