Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told Fred he must take his chance when he next plays for Manchester United and suggested the Brazilian could figure against Crystal Palace. Fredhas not played since the FA Cup third round win over Reading on January 5 and Solskjaer started Scott McTominay ahead of the £52million Brazilian against Liverpool at the weekend.
Solskjaer also chose to send on Fred’s compatriot, Andreas Pereira, rather than the summer signing when Ander Herrera suffered a hamstring injury in the 21st minute. Fred has not appeared in a Premier League match since the Boxing Day stroll against Huddersfield.
The MEN reported last week Fred has received positive feedback from United coaches, who feel he requires more time. Solskjaer confirmed the 25-year-old is still settling in but urged Fred to seize on the opportunity should he come in against Palace, where Herrera and Nemanja Matic will be absent through injury.
“Play well when he gets a chance,” Solskjaer replied when asked what Fred had to do to get a look-in. “Keep training, keep working. We’ve had a midfield three of Herrera, Pogba and Matic, and they’ve done really well together.
“It’s not like we’ve been really bogged down with too many games. That why we’ve kept them three together. McTominay was the obvious choice against Liverpool because he’s an academy kid. We had five academy kids on the pitch at one point. He knows what it means. “Fred will get his chances maybe tomorrow.”
Solskjaer was renowned for his impacts in the second half of seasons after biding his time on the bench but likened Fred’s situation to former teammate Juan Sebastian Veron again. Veron was a teammate of Solskjaer’s for two years and claimed a Premier League winner’s medal in 2003, but struggled to fit into United’s rhythm at a time Sir Alex Ferguson was experimenting with a new 4-4-1-1 formation.
Veron ironically began his United career rather impressively strongly before it petered out in a second season marred by injury. Solskjaer still drew a flattering comparison between Veron and Fred.
“You look more at the time it needs sometimes to settle,” Solskjaer added. “You see Seba Veron, he’s one of the best I played with, it took him time to settle in England. I’m sure that Fred, when he gets the chance, he will grab the opportunity.”
United dropped out of the top four at the weekend as Arsenal beat Southampton to return to fourth. Fifth-placed United head to Arsenal next week and fellow top four competitors Chelsea host Tottenham on Wednesday night. Solskjaer anticipates an entertaining climax for the final Champions League qualifying place.
“It’ll be exciting,” Solskjaer said. “We’ve got Chelsea at home and Arsenal away. Tottenham play at Chelsea on Wednesday. There will be so many games that in the end matter, because I don’t think there’ll be many points in it between four, five and six.
“Neither will it be between one, two and three.”