Erik ten Hag will pull up a chair in front of the media for the first time this summer later today and there will be plenty to discuss, as there always is with the manager of Manchester United.
The Dutchman tried to keep media commitments to a minimum in Thailand and Australia a year ago, but the interest in this football club is unparalleled. Ten Hag didn’t want to be talking about the same topics every three days, but people want to hear about the same topics every three days.
As well as the pack of Manchester-based reporters who have followed United across the pond, there will be plenty of American media wanting to tell their audience what is happening at Old Trafford. It’s a pretty positive tale to tell at the moment, a far cry from the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo stalking Ten Hag’s every public appearance on tour a year ago.
The press conference is to preview the fixture against Arsenal at the MetLife Stadium on Saturday but there will be little mention of the Gunners. Transfers dominate at this time of year and Ten Hag has two new arrivals to wax lyrical about.
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This might also be a chance to explain his decision to replace Harry Maguire with Bruno Fernandes as United’s captain. Maguire had his say on social media last weekend, accepting his fate with class and dignity, but we have yet to hear from Ten Hag about the decision.
In truth, he didn’t really have an option. You can’t have a club captain who isn’t in the team and there has to be a chance Maguire is now sold this summer, an outcome that probably suits all parties.
There is a feeling on the continent that English football is too fascinated by the idea of a captain, an interest in the game focused on individuals when in Europe it’s usually a simple decision to give the armband to the most experienced player in the team. But being club captain of Manchester United comes with cachet and is a vital role, not just leading on the pitch but off it as well, liaising between the manager and the players, keeping the United dressing room united when the spotlight on that group is as intense as at any club in world football.
A decision on a permanent replacement for Maguire hadn’t been communicated last weekend, but after touching down in the US earlier this week the players were informed by Ten Hag that the England centre-back would be succeeded by Fernandes.
Raphael Varane has begun both pre-season friendlies so far, against Leeds in Oslo and Lyon in Edinburgh, as captain and the 30-year-old has plenty of experience as an occasional skipper at Real Madrid and a World Cup winner. He could well be in line for a promotion too, to vice-captain.
Fernandes wore the armband when Maguire didn’t play last season and lifted the Carabao Cup with the centre-back. He was captain for 42 games last season.
For all the criticism he attracted after his petulant second half in the collapse to Liverpool at Anfield, Ten Hag defended him and he is the one who matters.
In April Ten Hag described Fernandes as a “pleasure to work with” and discussing the 28-year-old playing through the pain barrier against Tottenham, he praised his leadership once again.
“He’s so tough. A couple of weeks ago there was questions about his captaincy. It’s crazy because he’s such a big leader, by example,” he said. “He gives so much energy to the team besides his smartness. But also his determination, his passion and his resilience, so I think we as a team are so happy. We need such players if you want to win games, if you want to win trophies.”
So even if there have been external doubts about Fernandes as a captain, there have been no such concerns internally. Varane could be a great skipper, but he was never going to be promoted ahead of Fernandes.