Fred has sent an early message to new United boss

IT’S now three goals in United’s past two games that ought to have been scored simply through one player’s determination to win the ball.

- DOMINIC BOOTH

So before the criticism rains down (as it usually has this season) on Fred and the Reds’ perceived inability to press as a team, fans and pundits might want to consider both strikes at Villarreal on Tuesday night and the late opportunity the Brazilian had to beat Chelsea.

Okay, Fred spurned that golden chance after intercepting an Edouard Mendy pass, chipping tamely back at the goalkeeper, but his relentless energy and eagerness to press opponents are yielding results.

He helped create both goals against Villarreal, earning plaudits for his ball-winning ability.

It’s a trait many ignore when assessing the overall merits of Fred, but it wasn’t underestimated by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, nor by Michael Carrick.

And one suspects it won’t be undervalued by a certain Ralf Rangnick either.

The ‘godfather of gegenpressing’ has a reputation so well renowned that it was mischievously suggested by Gary Neville that Rangnick had had a say on Carrick’s tactics at Chelsea.