Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailed Fred’s performance at Paris Saint-Germain as his ‘breakthrough’ with Manchester United.
United signed Fred for £52million from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer but the Brazilian has struggled for much of the season and last week played his first game in 53 days. Since Fred appeared at Crystal Palace last Wednesday, he assisted Romelu Lukaku’s winner against Southampton and performed impeccably in the remarkable recovery against PSG.
Fred, 26, started in a midfield axis with Scott McTominay against Marco Verratti and Marquinhos as United switched to a 4-4-2 formation. Solskjaer said Fred showed why the club signed him in the 3-1 triumph at the Parc des Princes.
“They did a fantastic job, screening in front of their high midfielders and putting pressure on Verratti and Marquinhos, excellent,” Solskjaer said of Fred and McTominay. “That was probably Fred’s breakthrough for us.
“You can see why we signed him. He’s got the mentality of a Brazilian international, he is a Brazilian international, he gets on the ball, no fear, no doubt whatsoever. And we played a system today he used to play at Shakhtar and that’s why we signed him.”
Solskjaer has overseen a club record nine successive wins and claimed the scalps of Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea and PSG along the way. When a reporter asked whether Ed Woodward had given him the job yet, he replied: “I keep doing this job as best as I can every single day and let’s see where it takes us.
“It’s been a fantastic time with the players and the staff I’ve got working with me, I’m gonna enjoy this job as long as I’ve got it, if it’s another two or three months, however long it is, I’m gonna enjoy it, I’m gonna smile.
“I’m just doing the best I can now and planning with the club for the future, or for us, it doesn’t matter if I’m here or not, I’m still giving my opinion and advice on what we should do next season. I don’t really mind that, because I’m a supporter, as well, I want the best for Man United, as a supporter you want the best, as a manager you want the best, so you can ask me any advice any time.”