How Fred created one of his best Man Utd games – and the role he must now play

Cristiano Ronaldo’s sensational hat-trick stole all the headlines in Manchester United’s crucial win over Tottenham Hotspur, but another Red put on a stellar performance as well.

Loading video

Video not available

The video will automatically play soon8Cancel

Start playing

Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick rates Spurs win

After Manchester United back to the top four with 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, Cristiano Ronaldo is the focus of the market.

The Portuguese is back in top form, The goal for the home team was a horrifying hat-trick when Antonio Conte’s helpless team watched in horror.

But in and amid the Old Trafford atmosphere buoyed by shrill chants of ‘Siuuu’ welcoming every Ronaldo goal, an evil Red Devil often causes a storm of his own.

The Brazilian midfield engine Fred, who is often reduced to the role of scapegoat, enjoyed one of his finest performances in a United shirt.

Mirror Football consider everything Fred did brilliantly against Spurs.

Will Manchester United finish in the top four? Let us know in comment

With Scott McTominay being disqualified from the competition due to positivity Coronavirus Testing, Fred is deployed alongside the experienced Nemanja Matic, but is significantly less mobile.

The Serbian’s passing range and vision are balanced by Fred’s hunting instincts and his ability to find small spaces between players. Tottenham midfield and defense.

Matic just started ten Premier League games all season, while Fred, often the target of Roy Keane’s stinging criticism at United, was not a favorite at Old Trafford.

However, the former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder was nothing short of outstanding in the Red Devils match against Spurs.

He uses the ball well, he regularly breaks Tottenham’s midfield, and he fights for every loose ball.

“He’s probably, along with Scott McTominay, one of the best ball-winners if the other team holds the ball,” Rangnick said of Fred after the game.

“Today he also showed in a couple of counter-attacks and transitions he could play the ball perfectly, he provided the assist to score Cristiano’s first goal.

“So from Fred, it’s been one of the best performances since I’ve been here.”

While Fred’s contributions were defensive and protective, the Brazilian’s biggest influence was in the areas up front.

Paul Pogba’s compelling deployment in the position known as ‘Number 10’ creates space for both Fred and Ronaldo to exploit.

Pogba has enough ability to move freely around the pitch, whether it’s his preferred deep position, or the shadowy back of United’s backline.

He dragged Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur around, resulting in Fred and Ronaldo having huge gaps on the pitch.

And it was this good coordination of the players that led to Man United’s opening goal.

Raphael Varane took the ball on the touchline and removed Fred, who had strayed into the void right in front of Ronaldo.

Instinctively, Fred immediately crossed the ball into the high corner for Ronaldo to stalk, and the Portuguese striker had enough space and time to prepare himself and fired a long shot from 25 yards into the top right corner. .

It was the perfect example of Fred’s efficiency and industriousness. He is often fouled when passing the ball unnecessarily, while his defensive work often leaves a lot of the ball.

But this is a competition where the Brazilian has made a huge and distinct contribution to Rangnick’s team.

If such performances are consistently repeated, then United will likely have a good chance of finishing the campaign in the top four.