Bastian Schweinsteiger has explained that Daley Blind was the man responsible for David de Gea captaining Manchester United for the first time in his career and declared that he does not deserve that honour himself yet.
The goalkeeper was handed the armband by the German for the final few minutes of United's 3-0 Capital One Cup win over Ipswich last week and subsequently said it was a proud moment.
But Schweinsteiger revealed that when regular skipper Wayne Rooney went off and with his normal deputy Michael Carrick not playing and third-in-line Chris Smalling having already been substituted, he was reluctant to take over as captain himself.
The 31-year-old has experience of skippering both Germany and Bayern Munich and Rooney gave him the armband but, as a summer signing, he thought he should not wear it.
Daley Blind suggested goalkeeper De Gea, who has been at Old Trafford since 2011 but who almost joined Real Madrid at the end of the transfer window before signing a new contract with United.
Schweinsteiger told United Review: "Honestly, I didn't know who was the next captain in line so I looked to Daley for direction and he said David.
"I didn't think it was for me. I looked around for somebody who has played more games than me for Manchester United.
"Daley said David. I thought maybe Phil Jones, but it's not for me to wear just yet."
De Gea's elevation from the ranks came after a host of more experienced captaincy candidates left United's playing staff in the previous 18 months, including Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra, Darren Fletcher, Robin van Persie and Jonny Evans.