Emile Heskey, the former Liverpool striker, has criticized Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United, labeling him the flop of the season.

The ex-England international pointed out that the Portuguese midfielder, who currently wears the captain’s armband, has failed to deliver the level of leadership expected of him.

In an interview with Instant Casino, Heskey said, “Bruno Fernandes, in past seasons, has been a key player, consistently scoring goals and driving the team forward.

However, this season, as captain, I expected a lot more from him.

I want to see him take charge on the field, show more leadership, and set a stronger example for the team.”

Heskey’s criticism is centered around Fernandes’ lack of consistency, especially given his role as the club’s captain.

He emphasized that a good captain should lead by example, showing energy, aggression, and a willingness to fight for the team’s success.

“So far this season, one good performance against Liverpool is not enough.

For a player in Fernandes’ position, the bare minimum should be running hard, tackling, and showing aggression.

The captain should be the one who sets the tone for others to follow, but I don’t think he’s done that this season,” Heskey continued.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has shared his thoughts on the highly anticipated Spanish Super Cup final, an El Clásico showdown against Barcelona.

Ancelotti described the upcoming clash as one likely to be “entertaining,” considering the talent both teams bring to the table.

Real Madrid secured their place in the final after a commanding 3-1 victory over Mallorca in the semi-finals on Thursday.

Jude Bellingham opened the scoring, followed by an own goal from Martin Valjent, and Rodrygo sealed the win with a clinical finish.

Speaking after the semi-final, Ancelotti acknowledged the unpredictability of El Clásico, referencing the highs and lows both teams have experienced in their recent encounters.

“El Clásico has always been full of surprises,” Ancelotti said.

“There were games we won comfortably, and others where they completely outclassed us, like the 0-4 loss.

It’s tough to predict what will happen in the final, but I know it will be exciting.

Both teams have immense quality, and we’ll give our all to outshine Barcelona.”

Former Premier League star and 2001 Ballon d’Or winner, Michael Owen, has showered praise on Cristiano Ronaldo.

Speaking ahead of Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League clash with Al-Akhdoud, Owen described Ronaldo as a player who has defied the limits of time and expectations.

Ronaldo led Al-Nassr to a 3-1 victory over Al-Akhdoud on Thursday, scoring from the penalty spot while teammate Sadio Mane added two goals to seal the win.

Drawing from his own experience, Owen admitted he couldn’t sustain such levels throughout his career.

“It’s absolutely incredible to see how he’s maintained his standards,” Owen remarked.

“I started my first-team career at Liverpool at 17 but retired by 33.

Ronaldo started young too and is still performing at an elite level as he nears 40.”