Fred: Is he Manchester United’s most underrated player at Old Trafford

Fred’s future at Old Trafford seems more unclear despite an improvement in performances.

If there is any player who has every right to question Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the board about why he is not getting game time, it is the Brazilian midfielder Fred.

Jose Mourinho signed Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk for a fee of €59 million. After a tough start to life at Old Trafford, Fred started looking like the player for which Manchester United shelled out €59m for.

Sadly, when things seemed to be going well for the player the pandemic had different plans for him. From a regular starter, he fell further down the pecking order due to the return of injured players. Furthermore, the signing of Donny van de Beek from Ajax creates further problems for the Brazilian.

In his first season at Old Trafford, Fred featured in just 17 games. He was a bench player and only managed to get thirteen starts in 38 outings. It got so bad at times, ex-manager Mourinho even withdrew him at half-time in several games as the team looked vulnerable when he was on the pitch.

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The team ended in sixth place after Manchester United had a disastrous start to the season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave the impression they would finish in the top-four after taking over but injuries to Ander Herrera and other starters damaged the club’s hopes.

When it seemed like it was the end of the road for Fred, an injury to Paul Pogba in the 2019/20 season was a massive gain for the Brazilian. In his first few starts, he appeared shaky but with regular playing time, he grew in confidence. Before the pandemic spread, Fred had 22 starts to his name.

Everybody was happy with the Premier League’s “Project Restart” but Fred had reason to be unhappy with it. He and all players in a situation similar to his. The player who had started every game since mid-October was reduced to a bench role… Again!

After the fixture against Tottenham, Fred didn’t start any of the Premier League game as Matic and Pogba gave much-required stability to the midfield.

Why is Fred not preferred nowadays?

The stats tell the story. The Brazilian ranks second-highest in possession loss in the Man United squad. Though his recovery rate is high,  the former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder has lost possessions 14.5 times per 90 minutes.

Solskjaer likes to dictate the games against lower-ranked opposition. Manchester United sat deep and counter-attack against Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool, and the other bigger teams. Against other smaller teams, they dominated the possession. This is where Pogba and Matic have proved instrumental.

Now we have to ask why the Brazilian played so well with Scott McTominay?

The answer is McTominay lacks the defensive discipline and calmness that Nemanja Matic brings to the line-up. During those times, Fred covered for Scott McTominay in critical situations.

When he is paired alongside Paul Pogba, the opposition plays smart by sitting deep. This makes Fred struggle and uncomfortable.

When Fred is at his best?

The Brazilian midfielder comes in handy for the team when it’s end-to-end action, as this brings out Fred’s talents. His ability to intercept and win the ball back quickly has the potential to set the team on a counter-attack.

Fred’s best games can be named. In his first season with the Red Devils, the Brazilian midfielder was the one who helped the team make a comeback against PSG in Paris. In the absence of Paul Pogba, Fred marshaled the midfield.

He was instrumental in Manchester United’s double over Manchester City. Despite losing against Liverpool at Anfield, Fred shined for the team. In the 2019/20 season, the Brazilian was the one who kept the team afloat with his individual performances.

The former Shakhtar man is effective when the game goes out of control for Manchester United. But that is not what the manager desires. He wants to dictate the games which doesn’t suit Fred’s game.

What next for the Brazilian?

Manchester United’s coaching staff has played a great role in improving Fred’s performances in the middle of the park.

He became a different player altogether last season when compared to the season before. Fred was even named in the Europa League 2019/20 squad of the season for his performances.

However, the onus lies on Fred. Nemanja Matic will struggle to play all the games at the age of 32. The questions that Fred has to answer are;

Can he play as a single defensive midfielder with more discipline?

Can he create defense cutting passes from the back when teams defend with a low block?

If the answer is yes to all of these questions and he constantly improves himself, he can make his way back into the starting XI.

If he fails to do so next season, there are clubs wanting his signature. Galatasaray is one of the clubs that are constantly linked with Fred. With youngsters like James Garner, Levitt, and Scott McTominay rising through the ranks, Fred has very little time to prove himself.