THE NOTEBOOK: Scholes is not convinced by Bruno, Ten Hag sends message
THE NOTEBOOK: Paul Scholes is not convinced Bruno Fernandes should be captain, Erik ten Hag tells players to clear up their own mess after Anfield debacle… and more misery for former Man City keeper Claudio Bravo
- Man United 4-1 Real Betis: Ten Hag gets response he wanted with emphatic win
- United boss Ten Hag made no changes to the side that lost 7-0 to Liverpool
- Scholes raised doubts over Fernandes as captain despite impressive display
Marcus Rashford, Antony, Bruno Fernandes and Wout Weghorst scored to lift Manchester United to an emphatic 4-1 win over Real Betis in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, four days after their 7-0 loss to Liverpool.
Rashford scored his 25th goal of the season in the fifth minute but Ayoze Perez, on loan from Leicester City, netted his first goal for Betis in the 32nd minute.
Brazilian winger Antony put United ahead in the 52nd minute, launching a blistering left-foot shot from just outside the box into the top corner and six minutes later, Fernandes shrugged off the scathing criticism he received as captain after Sunday’s poor performance with a goal to head in a corner off the fingertips of Betis keeper Claudio Bravo.
Weghorst finally got his goal in the 82nd minute after missing numerous chances, steering the ball into the net after a cutback from substitute Facundo Pellistri.
Sportsmail’s CHRIS WHEELER takes a look at some of the things you may have missed.
Paul Scholes raised doubts over Bruno Fernandes as captain despite his impressive display
Scholes is not convinced by Bruno
Not everyone shared Erik ten Hag’s view that Bruno Fernandes is captaincy material following his histrionics in the 7-0 defeat by Liverpool on Sunday.
Paul Scholes knows a thing or two about playing under strong leaders at Manchester United, and he is less than convinced that Fernandes should get the job on a permanent basis if Harry Maguire leaves Old Trafford this summer.
‘Your captain has to be an influence, a leader, calming down characters like him (Fernandes),’ Scholes told BT Sport.
‘I’d be concerned if United are going for the title in March or April. I don’t think having him as your captain would be ideal. Going forward, bigger games, going for trophies, Champions League finals, a captain with less emotion might be better. He won’t be proud of what happened on Sunday.’
Same XI told to make amends
Ten Hag’s decision to name an unchanged line-up sent a clear message to the players who capitulated so disastrously at Anfield: you got us into this mess, now get us out of it.
‘Of course they get the opportunity for rehabilitation,’ said the United manager before kick-off.
Ten Hag, who emerged from the tunnel wearing a beanie hat when a tin helmet might have felt more appropriate, added in his match programme notes: ‘It is not acceptable for Manchester United to lose in that fashion to any team, and especially not to Liverpool. The players have been left in no doubt that we cannot tolerate what we saw in the second half on Sunday.
Joaquin rolls back the years
Age is just a number for Joaquin, who played in the 2002 World Cup for Spain.
The 41- year-old captained Real Betis and was everywhere, playing the No 10 role — as you can see from his touch map.
It was his 18th game of the season.
The Spaniard started his professional career in 1999 — the same year that United won the treble under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Unhappy return for Bravo
Claudio Bravo endured a difficult time at Manchester City after Pep Guardiola signed him to replace Joe Hart in the summer of 2016.
The Chilean’s return to the North West did not go much better, as he was beaten four times at Old Trafford on a night to forget.
Real Betis goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was beaten four times at Old Trafford on a night to forget
Deep freeze
You had to spare a thought for the visitors from southern Spain.
Seville is basking in highs in the mid-20s this week, but it was one degree above freezing at kick-off here.
At least Real Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini will have been well prepared, after three years at Manchester City.
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