Bruno Fernandes demonstrated his leadership qualities when he was the first Manchester United player to speak after Erik ten Hag's sacking. Tuesday marks precisely 12 months since the Dutchman was shown the door at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag's dismissal represented a dark time for many around the club for a multitude of reasons. It proved United were perhaps wrong to keep the manager on despite his FA Cup triumph over Manchester City just months prior, with the club sat 14th in the Premier League at the time of his exit.
Throngs of supporters had wanted the experiment to bear fruit after the motion that came with that Wembley win. Instead, what followed was more of the same morose mood around the side, who returned to the familiar ways in struggling for consistent results.
But Fernandes, who was named United skipper by Ten Hag in July 2023, was the first to pull his head above the parapet. And the Portuguese playmaker was all class as he wished the departing tactician well.
"Thanks for everything boss! I appreciate the trust and the moments we share (sic) together," he wrote on Instagram, along with the raised hands emoji. "I wish you all the best in the future.
"Even knowing the last period hasn't been great from all of us I hope you fans can keep with you the good things the manager has done for our club!"
Easy as it may be to fixate on the negatives associated with a departing manager, United had their share of highs under Ten Hag. And he was only one win from clinching a cup double in his maiden term at the helm, winning the League Cup and only just losing the 2023 FA Cup final to City.
It's also worth noting United managed to finish third in the league at the end of Ten Hag's debut season. However, a historic drop-off from there to eighth the following campaign formed a large basis for his dismissal.
Fernandes, 31, will have formed his own relationship with the man who entrusted him with the armband at Old Trafford. But the veteran midfielder also has cause for optimism when fellow Sporting CP alumnus Ruben Amorim was appointed his successor.
And as the 12-month anniversary of Ten Hag's farewell passes over, things are finally starting to come good for the incumbent. A 4-2 win over Brighton on Saturday has seen United win three in a row for the first time since Amorim took charge.
Fernandes & Co. are up to sixth in the Premier League and haven't lost a game at home since their first outing of the campaign. The next test comes at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, however, as United target a move into the top four.
Here at the Manchester Evening News, we're dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.