BROMANCE OF THE CUP
Ole’s feeling love for big pals Fernandes, Fred and Telles
MANCHESTER UNITED are bouncing to the Samba beat of Old Trafford’s Three Amigo’s – and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is loving it.
Brazilian midfielder Fred, talisman Bruno Fernandes and defender Alex Telles have formed their own terrific trio – and it is paying dividends for United.
United by their shared Portuguese language, the threesome have put the smile back into the team – on and off the pitch.
The talented trinity drive each other on with free-kick competitions after training – with Fred getting plenty of stick for his woeful shooting from outside the box.
United head to Leicester today aiming to keep their incredible 23-game unbeaten away run going in domestic competition with a place in the FA Cup semi-finals at stake at the King Power.
And Solskjaer has revealed the trio have formed a close bond that is delivering joy around the club’s AON training complex at Carrington. “They’re three peas in a pod, you know – Fred, Bruno and Alex. They hang around each other” said Solskjaer (right).
“They have so much enthusiasm and hunger and a desire to get knowledge about football, to make the most out of their careers.
“They watch all the Brazilian and Portuguese games on TV and it’s crazy how those three keep pushing each other on, keep practising free-kicks and shots from outside the box.
“It’s great to have these characters around the dressing room you know. Because it’s a tough enough season if everyone is just going to focus on themselves and be like standard A4 – you need these kind of guys who are different.
“It’s great to have groups and players with energy and a bit of smile. They put the
Brazilian samba music on and a smile on faces and all of this is great.”
While Paul Pogba was the hero in the San Siro with the winning goal against AC Milan that propelled United to a
Europa League quarter-final tie with Granada, midfield grafter Fred put in the hard yards.
And Solskjaer’s delighted the 28-year-old has silenced his critics to play a key role in making United hard to beat.
“The energy and intensity and tenacity of his play in midfield, it builds a lot of our defensive performances” added the Norwegian boss.
“There was a three or four minute spell in the first half in Milan where everything went wrong for Fred, but he never gives in – he’s got that enthusiasm to play and go again.
“He’s a Brazilian! He loves to play, he loves to get on the ball, he is never afraid of making himself available and ready.
“So I’m so pleased for the boy. He has been working so hard since his difficult start at the club.”
The FA Cup might have lost some sheen and status in the last few seasons.
But Solskjaer has warned Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers it is high on his priority list having been enthralled by the competition since lifting it as a player in United’s 1999 Treble season.
“The shared history of the FA Cup and Manchester United is so great and for me, it is one of the most iconic trophies you can win,” said Solskjaer.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to win it a couple of times and growing up as a kid it was THE big game.
“Walking up the Wembley steps is a magical experience. So it’s a big game for us against Leicester.”