'Bruno Fernandes would put out cones for Class of 92 Man Utd team' says ex-Prem boss

A former Premier League manager issued a brutal verdict on Man United's struggling squad this season, arguing that none of them would get near the starting XI under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Harry Redknapp insisted that not a single member of Ruben Amorim's squad would break into Manchester United's famous 'Class of 92' team - claiming captain Bruno Fernandes would only be good enough to put out cones and hand out bibs for the likes of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

United are currently languishing in 15th place in the Premier League table and pressure is mounting on Amorim to turn around the club’s fortunes after he took over from Erik ten Hag in November last year.

The Red Devils have suffered a torrid campaign - losing nine of their 18 top-flight matches so far - and they face Arsenal on Sunday afternoon hoping to avoid a fourth defeat in a row in all competitions.

And Redknapp - who was in charge of West Ham when United won the Premier League title in 1997 with their famous ‘Class of 92’ side - believes the current crop of players are a far cry from the likes of Scholes, Giggs, David Beckham and Gary Neville.

That team also included the likes of Roy Keane, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville, who came through the academy, as well as star players Peter Schmeichel, Eric Cantona and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

‘Bruno Fernandes is the closest and even then no more than a place in the squad. He wouldn’t have a prayer of making the team,’ Redknapp wrote in his column for The Sun. ‘Who would you drop? Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, Roy Keane, Paul Ince, even Nicky Butt or Darren Fletcher? Not a chance.

‘If Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struggled to get a game, Fernandes wouldn’t get beyond putting the cones down and handing out bibs.’ Redknapp - who managed nine different sides across his 30-year managerial career - went on to note that he would have a much better record against United if he were to face the current team, led by club captain Fernandes.

He added: ‘And I tell you what — if Bruno and Co had been at United when I was managing, I’d know all about winning at Old Trafford.’

Fernandes is United’s top goalscorer and assist provider in the Premier League this season (six and seven respectively), and has won them some vital points in recent months.

But Amorim leapt to Fernandes’ defence even though he acknowledged that the player can sometimes get under people’s skin.

Asked about Keane’s comments, he said: ‘I heard about that, I have a different opinion. Roy Keane has big standards from his time. I think my opinion is more important than Roy Keane because I am the coach.

‘Bruno is really important for us in the club, especially for me. He is playing well in a difficult context. He wants always the responsibility. I know as a captain he does things sometimes with his arms, criticising the teammates. Most of all it is a bit of frustration. He wants to win and sometimes it is difficult to deal with that frustration.’