Opinion on Fred’s role in midfield after Man Utd v RB Leipzig

Apart from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof, both of whom are inarguable first-choice picks in their position, Fred was the only United outfielder to start and complete all four games against Manchester City and both clashes with Liverpool last season.

After being omnipresent so far during this Champions League campaign, there can be no doubt that Fred is now seen by Ole as integral to his set-up for big games, with the boss enthusing about the former Shakhtar Donetsk man’s role in the diamond after the final whistle at Old Trafford – and hinting he may be called into action again, for Arsenal at the weekend.

“The work off the ball, it was incredible,” Solskjaer told reporters.

“Nemanja [Matic], Fred, Paul [Pogba], Donny [van de Beek]: all four of them worked their socks off. That’s the basis of the team. If you can work hard and win the ball in good situations, you create chances.

“I’m sure Fred covered every single blade of grass on that pitch. It’s unbelievable how that boy just recovers for the next one.”