SKIPPER Bruno Fernandes heads a six-strong “leadership group” that Ruben Amorim has asked to help keep his squad in line.
Boss Amorim revealed that Fernandes and Harry Maguire have been joined by Argentine Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot, keeper Tom Heaton and Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui to police the internal code of conduct.
The “rules” have been spelled out and include the behaviour of players whenever they are on club business, with stars encouraged to sign autographs and engage with fans on match-day.
Amorim, 40, said: “We have rules, and the rules are not to treat the players as babies.
In a brutally honest, no-holds-barred interview, Amorim revealed:
“They have sons, so I treat each of them as a man, but they have rules now.
“That can change the way you train. If you don't train in the right way, I have footage to show you. And I will show you in front of everybody, not just speak, but show you as well.
“So I'm always on top but I will expect it will be just one phase and that I won't need to do anything because they will push each other.
“I will show everything. So that really requires a lot of energy.
“But this year is that I have more people to do that. We have a leadership group now.
“It's not just Bruno. It's not just Harry. It's six guys now. They are responsible for the group.
“There are some things that in the last year I had to deal with that. I said to them, ‘this year, you deal with that; the small issues are with you guys. You are responsible’.
After naming his sextet, Amorim added: “It's not just the oldest ones.
“Nous (Mazraoui) is in the group because he's a character that I like.
“I try to understand the dynamic of the group. Try to reach every space. They are the guys that are responsible to keep everyone in line.”
