In a recent interview ahead of Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against Southampton on Saturday, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer provided an update on Fred’s current status at Old Trafford and said (via Manchester Evening News), “He’s fine, he’s working hard. At the moment, he’s behind Paul and Nemanja and Scott. That’s the reason he hasn’t been involved.
“It’s the most difficult period in August to manage a big squad because there is only one game a week and everyone is fit because we’ve just had pre-season and everyone is ready to play.
“September, October, November, December is when injuries come and that’s when you play most of the games, so he will play plenty of football.”
Fred’s Struggles At Manchester Last Season
Fred has fallen down the Old Trafford pecking order and is currently competing with the likes of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay for a first-team berth in Solskjaer’s starting XI. The Brazilian talent had to endure a frustrating season in the previous term when he was only a sporadic feature in the Man United senior team. The 26-year-old made 25 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring one goal while grabbing one assist across multiple competitions.
Does The Brazilian Midfield Ace Have A Future With The Red Devils?
The fact remains that Fred has failed to live up to the high expectations surrounding his arrival at the Theatre of Dreams from Shakhtar Donetsk last summer. With matches coming thick and fast for Solskjaer’s men during the winter months, the Brazilian midfield ace will surely get another shot to prove his worth to the Man United supporters. However, if he fails to deliver for the Red Devils this season, then it is highly likely that he might be moved on at the end of this campaign.
Fred was a potent goal-threat from midfield during his time with Shakhtar after he scored 15 goals in 155 appearances for the Ukrainian giants. However, the nine-time Brazil international has struggled to cope with the pace, physicality and high intensity of Premier League football on his debut season. Thus, this 2019-20 campaign could be a ‘make or break’ year for him as he tries to reignite his career in European football.
Can Fred Turn His Fortunes Around For The Better This Season?
At 26, the South American playmaker is currently experiencing the peak years of playing career, so it’s high time he started performing on the field. With Man United also set to be heavily involved in the UEFA Europa League this season, Fred’s best bet to win back the club’s fans might be to do well for the Red Devils under the bright lights of European football.
The Brazilian midfielder will also be better-suited to prove his worth at the continental stage as the intensity of football usually drops a notch when compared to the regular matches in English football.
