Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes hit back at comments from owner Jim Ratcliffe that suggested some of the side’s players are overpaid, stating that the club also had a hand in the contractual agreements penned by the players at the Premier League side which seems to be languishing in the 14th spot in the English top flight. Fernandes has been an irreplaceable talisman for the Mancunian side ever since his arrival at Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon and has been at the forefront of everything at the fabled club, carrying the side on his shoulders with his immaculate performances. Fernandes was at it again as he starred in his side’s win over Real Sociedad in the UEFA Europa League Ro16 clash with a hat trick in the second leg to ensure the PL side advanced. The Portuguese maestro clapped back at INEOS boss Ratcliffe’s scathing remarks on the side’s players following the win, stating that everyone in the side leave it all on the pitch irrespective of the result. “We can’t relax at this club. You know that there’s a big standard, a big attention that you get from the media, from everywhere,” Fernandes said. “It’s not nice to hear certain things, obviously. I don’t think that any player likes to hear criticism or things that are talked about to you, that you’re not good enough or you’re overpaid or whatever,” he added. “Everyone has their own contract. The club agrees to do the contracts at the time you come here or at the time you do a new contract or whatever and it’s about yourself, proving that you can be important for the club,” the skipper continued. Fernandes also revealed that he sat down with the club ahead of the season to discuss the future amid the several contract offers he received from elsewhere and decided to stay with the Red Devils following the assurances from the club and the management. “I sat with the club because I had an offer to leave,” he added. “We talked about the possibility of me leaving the club or staying,” the Portuguese midfielder said. “They said what they wanted from me. I just asked if they still see me as part of the future of the club or not. I spoke at the time with former manager, Erik Ten Hag also,” he added. “He was very clear with me, the club was very clear with me, that they thought I would be a big part of this rebuild. I thought that we could be successful,” the 30-year-old said. Fernandes, who has been the most prolific presence in the United contingent since his arrival, has drawn some criticism from club legend Roy Keane over his captaincy and his propensity to crib at times when decisions or results do not go the team’s way. Fernandes stated that he hoped to change the Irishman’s opinions about him with his performances on the field. “What I’m doing on the pitch to try to change his mind or trying to do something that he probably sees as a good thing,” Fernandes said. “Obviously, I do it in my own way, I don’t want to copy anyone.” “I try to be the best captain that I can for my teammates, I try to help everyone in the best way I can and the best way I know,” he concluded.