Every few days, an absolute howler seems to present itself in the football world. This time around, it was Manchester United for their reaction to Bruno Fernandes being mocked by another club.
The Red Devils suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Fulham during a Premier League encounter last Saturday, in what was considered by many to have been a very underwhelming performance by the inconsistent Manchester side.
Read: OFFICIAL: African giants 'make U-turn' on AFCON boss, confirm new coach
Not only did Fulham walk away from Old Trafford with the three points, but the Cottagers also used social media to poke fun at club captain Bruno Fernandes.
They uploaded a video to TikTok in which the Portugal international could be seen holding his ankle in agony after some contact with the Cottagers. A few seconds later, however, he was right back on his feet.
@fulhamfc So glad he's ok… ?? #fulhamfc #premierleague #brunofernandes ? sonido original - ? ? ???????????????????? ? ?
Speaking after the club's 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Wednesday, manager Erik ten Hag hit back at Fulham for mocking Fernandes' "serious injury".
"You saw that Forest were targeting him," Ten Hag said, per the Daily Mail. "There were many fouls on him. You see when he is getting the ball, they are really tight on him.
"I don't say what it is, but it was a serious injury. I see social media criticise him. It is pathetic. He has a serious injury, he continued to play on Saturday and then also he fought to be part of this game.
"He has a very high pain threshold. Last year he did something similar against Spurs. It shows his leadership."
The howler in this case is the Dutch tactician defending his player's ridiculous behaviour, making himself look a little bit silly in the process. To call it a "serious injury" after Fernandes went down all too easily and sprung right back to his feet just a few seconds later just does not seem right. Yes, it is important for managers to back and protect their players from the media, but sometimes you must take it on the chin too.
One comment on the video questioned why an account run by a professional football club is allowed to mock an opposition player. The answer is quite simple: It is because they can and, quite frankly, they should.
Behaviour like that exhibited by Fernandes in this incident is something that needs to be kicked out of the game completely because of all the negativity and controversy it could spark after the final whistle. It's extra work on the plate of referees who are already under so much pressure and scrutiny.
Ten Hag's loyalty to his players is something that can be admired, but at some point – this one – a line needs to be drawn and a serious conversation needs to be had. It is as simple as telling him something along the lines of "stop complaining and just get on with the game".
While the Portuguese playmaker may be a force of nature when it comes to chance creation, his unhealthy habit of easily falling over when an opposition player makes the slightest of contact with him is something that has irritated many opposition fans as well as some of the Red Devils' faithful.
Many would consider this habit something that should not be associated with a club captain, especially when the team in question is United, given the legendary players who have worn the armband before him.
Read: CAF CL club chief: Tau is Ahly's most dangerous player
Disclaimer: SNL24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on SNL24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of SNL24.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
WATCH: