(CNN)After his credibility as Manchester United captain was widely questioned following the 7-0 drubbing against Liverpool on Sunday, Bruno Fernandes showed a very different side of his game against Real Betis in the Europa League.
The midfielder once again led his side out at Old Trafford on Thursday and produced a scintillating performance to inspire United to a 4-1 win in the round of 16, first -eg tie.
It was the perfect response to the weekend's humiliation and United manager Erik ten Hag was impressed by Fernandes' reaction.
"For Bruno, I think he was brilliant today," Ten Hag told reporters after the game.
"He led the team from the first minute by his game. In possession, he made the rhythm of the game and he scored a goal so I am happy."
Fernandes was singled out for widespread criticism after Liverpool handed United its worst league defeat since 1931.
Former United captain Gary Neville called the Portuguese playmaker a "disgrace" and "embarrassing at times" during his analysis as a pundit on Sky Sports.
At one point in Sunday's game Fernandes failed to chase Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajcetic after the 18-year-old sped away from the United captain
"However bad United were, you cannot just let someone run away from you and give up," Ex-Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton told the BBC earlier this week. "That's what the captain of Manchester United did and that's a bad look.
Sutton also told the BBC that Fernandes "should never put on the armband again for Manchester United."
Ten Hag, though, stood by his man and once again gave him the armband with club captain Harry Maguire on the bench.
His faith was rewarded with Fernandes returning to the form that made him such a fan favorite when he first joined the club in 2020.
He also scored with a bullet head in the second half while fans inside Old Trafford sang his name throughout the match.
Wout Weghorst was emotional after scoring United's fourth goal of the match.