"I apologized to Ten Hag for letting him down" - Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes apologizes to ex-United manager Ten Hag, sharing responsibility for sacking. Nistelrooy navigates team through emotional transition.

Bruno Fernandes and Erik Ten Hag before the latter got sacked following a run of poor results. (Photo credit: BBC)

Bruno Fernandes, the captain of Manchester United, revealed that he called former club manager Erik Ten Hag to express his apologies following the Dutchman's sacking last Monday.

Last week, Erik Ten Hag was dismissed following another defeat to West Ham, a game in which Manchester United had numerous scoring opportunities but miscalculated, ultimately conceding a controversial late penalty.

Bruno Fernandes scored the first league goal of the post-Ten Hag era when he converted coolly from the spot against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday in United’s 1-1 draw, and while speaking after the game, the Portuguese playmaker revealed he apologized to the former manager for letting him down.

"Whenever you see a manager go, you have to take some of the blame on yourself; it is because the team is not doing so well," Fernandes told Sky.

"Getting rid of a manager is easier than getting rid of 15 players." I spoke to the manager [Ten Hag] and apologised to him. I was disappointed he had gone, and I tried to help him. I wasn't scoring goals; we are not scoring goals, and I feel responsible.

"The departure of the manager is detrimental to everyone at the club." The team is not the best, the results are not the best, and he is the one who pays for it." Fernandes’ penalty was not enough to hand the home team three points, as Moises Caicedo leveled shortly after halftime.

Former club striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy took to the dugout almost two decades after he left for Real Madrid. He was full of praise for the former manager, whom he felt sorry for after getting the sack, while also admitting that the current situation is tough.

Chelsea forced United to a draw in the league on Sunday after they defeated Leicester City 5-2 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, a result that did little to improve the club's situation as they remain in 13th place on the log.

"It has been very difficult from last Monday to today, six days, a rollercoaster of emotions," Van Nistelrooy said. "It's awful seeing Erik leave.

"The next day, you need to concentrate on preparing the team for Leicester, as 75,000 spectators are expected at Old Trafford, and the players believe they have a responsibility to perform better." They examine themselves in the mirror, and their responses both then and today demonstrate their thought process.

What happens to Van Nistelrooy from here is left to be seen as newly appointed manager Ruben Amorim has confirmed that he would bring his backroom staff. Would United keep the former Dutch striker in any capacity?