Our no.8 has been questioned in some media quarters following the difficult defeat at Liverpool on Sunday.
Some commentators have suggested that he should no longer captain the side – Fernandes has regularly worn the armband this season when club skipper Harry Maguire has not been in the starting XI.
But Erik is unwilling to countenance that possibility and instead was keen to highlight the positive effect that the Portugal international has had on his team-mates, during a campaign where he's registered 18 goal involvements in 40 games and missed just two matches in all competitions, both due to suspension.