Bruno Fernandes calls out Man Utd "yes men" as he explains Victor Lindelof row

Bruno Fernandes says he is not interested in playing alongside "yes men" at Man Utd as he admitted he thrives on criticism.

Despite only arriving at Old Trafford less than a year ago the midfielder has already displayed real leadership qualities.

From pretty much day one at his new club Fernandes has been ordering his teammates around the pitch and has pulled no punches when calling out their mistakes.

Defender Victor Lindelof was on the receiving end of one tongue-lashing in the Europa League semi-final against Sevilla, as he and Fernandes were exchanged in a hot-tempered exchange on the field.

But Fernandes has insisted the row was part and parcel of football and wants to see more of it at United.

"In Portugal, this is how you play football. This is how you communicate. If you say or do something wrong, I’ll tell you about it," he told the Players' Tribune . "I live football like it has to be lived — in the moment. But it stays on the pitch. That’s it. And tomorrow, we’re all friends again. We hug, we get on with it.

"To be honest, I like criticism. Because it helps you to improve and understand that you can't relax. It motivates me. You know, some people surround themselves with 'yes men,' but that’s not me. I want people like my friends on the playgrounds who aren’t afraid to point the finger at me and tell me where I’m going wrong.

"I like to come home after a match and hear, 'I love you, but you really should’ve scored today. Good passing, yes. But many missed chances.'"

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Fernandes's high standards have helped raise the bar at United, who top the table heading into Sunday's crunch clash with rivals Liverpool.

And his manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has no issue with Fernandes demanding more from his teammates, providing his lectures are constructive.

“In the heat of the moment people are allowed to air their frustration and be angry for a second or two, but then it’s over and done with, because it’s just for the benefit of the team. If it lingers on that’s a different scenario," Solskjaer said in November.

"I’ve been in a team and I like a team that has that inner justice where it’s not just the managers and the coaches that shout. I want players to take responsibility and put other players into their places at times when it’s necessary.

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“They're out there fighting for one cause and that’s for the team to win.

“The players have reacted really well [to Fernandes], we see different kinds of leadership, some lead by example, some lead by both, once in a while you just have to take a rollicking when you deserve one."

Solskjaer added: "We can all learn from his mentality and mindset, that winning mentality, if it’s 2-0 he wants 3-0, if it’s 4-0 he wants 5-0, he always wants the team to improve."

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