I’ve given Bruno Fernandes plenty of stick for his tantrums over the years so it’s time to redress the balance.

He may not be captaincy material in my eyes because of his petulance but he’s also Manchester United’s best player by a mile and the only way they can win a trophy this season.

If he played for a properly decent team like Manchester City or Liverpool, I bet he wouldn’t get half as frustrated.

I’ve always admired players who show courage and Bruno is definitely one of those.

Bravery doesn’t always have to mean crunching into 50-50 tackles. It’s about taking the ball under pressure, knowing there will be groans around the stadium if you lose it but accepting the responsibility of creating for your team.

I’ve given Fernandes stick for his tantrums over the years so it’s time to redress the balance

Yes, his histrionics can drive me and everyone else crazy but it’s about time to acknowledge there are reasons why and understanding why he’s like that.

It’s because he cares and can’t help becoming incredibly frustrated that the players around him in this United team often aren't at his level.

He is one who has to try the defence-splitting pass or take a shot because others won’t.

The Portugal international is also durable. He makes himself available to play every time no matter how difficult the team’s form is.

We can all think of players who might “feel” an injury niggle when the going gets tough and decide to sit out a game or two.

I’ve watched Bruno closely in United’s last matches against Liverpool and Bournemouth. It’s only down to him that Erik ten Hag’s team were able to eke out a result.

That has to be credited and admired. So does his Premier League record of 52 goals and 39 assists in 155 games from midfield - in a struggling United team. Can you imagine his numbers if he was playing in a top side?

United will rely on him again for producing a bit of magic in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Coventry. They’ll be favourites against Championship opposition but it’s Bruno who will carry the attacking burden.

I’m sure that annoying part to his game would subside if United were a more cohesive unit.

I can’t disagree that he should stay more focussed and keep his discipline as the leader of his team. But I understand that behaviour comes from a place of desperation.

Going back to my playing days, if you’re around people who aren’t as capable, it can wind you up and make things difficult.

Bruno is not good at suppressing his emotions but at the same time his contribution has been huge.

You wouldn’t get the same drama from him playing for Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp because he wouldn’t see team-mates lose the ball or make a defensive gaffe as often.

I’ll be interested to see if Bruno can put on a show at Wembley on Sunday. The FA Cup always throws up brilliant stories and seeing Mark Robins lead out Coventry against the club where he made his name is certainly that.

Robins is credited with saving Fergie’s job of course with his third-round winner at Nottingham Forest in 1990 when United went on win the trophy.

I do remember the game because my brother was a United fan and went to the City Ground to watch.

No competition throws up plot lines quite like the FA Cup and as soon as Coventry won at Wolves in the last round and United had beaten Liverpool, I was sure they’d be paired together.

It takes me back to my childhood. One of my favourite FA Cup finals was watching Coventry as a 10-year-old beat Spurs 3-2. Dave Bennett’s cross for Keith Houchen’s diving header lives with me to this day.

Some of the Sky Blue fans at Wembley on Sunday will have been there 38 years ago. I guess another fairytale is possible but they’ll have to deal with Bruno who will be the most gifted player on the pitch.

I’m not excusing his more extreme behaviours but I have to appreciate where it’s coming from and acknowledge that without him, United would be in a far worse place than they are now.

FA Cup rule changes needed more consideration

I’m a traditionalist and disappointed that FA Cup replays are being scrapped and the final will no longer be the last game of the domestic season.

I’m not against change but they could have worked things out better.

An FA Cup replay was an important part of my own footballing development. Crewe draw with Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang at Gresty Road and it was a big thing to go down there for a replay against real battle-hardened types like Vinnie Jones and Mick Harford.

We lost 2-0 but the experience was hugely beneficial.

Let’s get it right, the only reason the decision to end replays has been made is because the big clubs are prepared to sacrifice the magic of the FA Cup so their players can be kept fresher for the lucrative European competitions.

It’s about succumbing to the demands of the wealthiest rather than doing the right thing and respecting the history of our game.

I’d rather things hadn’t changed. Now that they have, should it be time to consider ways of helping lower league clubs who will lose revenue by killing off replays.

Maybe Premier League clubs should be seeded for the third round to avoid each other. And the lower league clubs can choose whether they want the game at their own ground or play at the bigger stadium with the benefits of larger gate receipts.

I think it’s a shame the authorities have relented to the bigger clubs. Premier League owners and CEOs want less fixtures apart from those that make the really big bucks. It’s purely about finance.

I also dislike the decision that the Premier League season will now finish after the FA Cup final. But this isn’t the first time the FA Cup has been sacrificed.

The allure of Wembley has been lost by holding semi-finals there. That special thrill of thousands of fans travelling down for cup final day is lost because those supporters had already been there a month before! It’s greed.

This season’s FA Cup has thrown up some incredible games. The Man Utd-Liverpool 4-3 thriller stands out. So does Newport getting an equaliser against United. And Coventry’s late win at Wolves.

It always produces incredible drama but it’s being made a scapegoat for the increasingly-cumbersome and unworkable fixture list.

Palhinha's big mistake! 

I enjoyed my interview with Joao Palhinha last week but I had to disagree with him on one thing. He was asked by the Mail Sport’s social media team to choose between Luka Modric and Steven Gerrard – and he opted for the Croatian!

No chance. Stevie in his prime would have been so pumped up facing a world-class opponent, he’d have run all over him. As brilliant as Modric is, he couldn’t have coped with Stevie’s athleticism.