Fred Manchester United
Fred admits it is ‘strange’ for Manchester United to have an interim manager and ‘a little bit bad’ they are not working under a permanent appointment.
Fred said “It’s a bit strange. I know in football it’s important to get good results as soon as possible, but it’s also important to have a long-term plan. I think it’s a little bit bad for us not to have one, at the moment it’s all about the short-term goals. We don’t know how it’s going to be after the end of this season.”
Since joining from Shakhtar Donestk for £52million in 2018, Fred has often been derided by some fans and pundits yet he became a key player under Solskjaer and Rangnick has started him in eight of his 15 games in charge. Before Rangnick took over, Fred had claimed one goal and one assist all season.
When asked if he was in his ‘best moment’ since joining United,
Fred said “I think so, yes. I’ve had ups and downs since arriving here. I know I’m not the best player, the most technical, but I give my blood and my life every time I’m on the pitch. As we say in Brazil, I carry the piano for the artists to play. I think it’s important when I’m playing as it gives the offensive players more freedom. I just want to help them. It’s also been nice to play lately more like a box-to-box, it’s my favourite position, I’ve been creating chances and even scoring. It’s similar now to the position I play internationally for Brazil.”
After United lost 2-0 to Manchester City in November, Roy Keane said if he saw Solskjaer he would grab him and ask, ‘Why are you playing Fred?’ Keane, on punditry duty again for the Leeds match on Sunday, admitted Fred had a ‘swagger back… he’s obviously improved his end-product over the last few months’. Fred says he is open to constructive criticism but dismissed comments on social media.
Fred said “I listen to constructive criticism, for sure. When I hear I’ve missed too many balls in a match, I listen, analyse the match and pay even more attention to correct this aspect of my game on the next chance. But there is a lot of criticism just to humiliate you, it’s easy to go on social media and write anything full of hatred. I don’t listen to these ones, but I praise constructive criticism, it can be helpful sometimes. They (the former players) had many moments of glory for Manchester United and now they’re paid to give opinions, so I’m fine with it. It’s their job and their right to do so. I don’t agree with it but it’s their opinion. I’m not confrontational. I’ve heard a lot of negative comments about me, always negative, but I won’t say anything back. My focus is to work on the pitch.”
Fred could return to the United XI for their Champions League round-of-16 first leg against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. Atletico lost at home to Levante, the bottom team in La Liga, last week and are in danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League next season. Diego Simeone is into his 11th year coaching Atletico and the team continues to plays in the image of the fiery Argentinian. Fred insists United need to have ‘balls’ if they are to overcome the Spanish champions.
Fred said “Even when not playing well, they’re a hard team to beat,. Their manager is Argentinian, man, so they’re warriors, defend really well, they like a bit of a fight on the pitch and play collectively as a unit. So it really doesn’t matter if Atletico is going through a bad moment. It’s a match for players that have balls – pardon my French. They’re the most South American team in the Champions League.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked on November 21 and replaced by caretaker Michael Carrick and then Ralf Rangnick on an interim basis until the end of the season. Fred has benefitted immensely from Rangnick, having moved to an advanced midfield role, scoring two goals and assisted three in his 11 appearances under the German. The Brazilian came off the bench to rifle in United’s winner at Leeds on Sunday but in a candid interview expressed his feelings about working under a coach for a limited period of time.
