BRAZIL ABOUT Ole getting full value
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has saluted Brazilian star Fred for going from zero to hero at Manchester United.
Fred, 26, was labelled a £52million flop after a disappointing first season in which he looked miles off the Premier League pace following his arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk.
The South American suffered through not speaking English and found the football faster and more physical than he was used to in a debut season to forget.
But Fred has picked up the language, the speed of the Premier League and learned from his mistakes to become a fans’ favourite at Old Trafford.
And he heads to Goodison Park for this afternoon’s clash with Everton with Solskjaer delighted at his belated emergence as the player United hoped they had signed.
The Norwegian boss said: “Fred has really taken on the challenge this season.
“He had a tough first season but ever since we came in we’ve shown him that we believe in him, he’s known that.
“Fred struggled a little bit with the language last season and I wouldn’t have expected that to be a problem when he came in because Jose Mourinho was the manager so he probably communicated with him really well as both spoke Portuguese.
“But one of our coaches, Martyn Pert, has come in from Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS and he’s fluent in Portuguese so it’s easier for Fred to communicate with us all now.
“His English is better, he’s got used to English football where you don’t have three or four touches, you have to play much more one and twotouch and don’t get your studs on the ball – all those little habits that Brazilian players have from a slower type of game.
“He’s shown that he’s a tough lad, he’s mentally very strong and a top human being as well.
“And he’s always positive, he works hard and tries his best.
“It didn’t always work out last season, even in training sometimes, but we encouraged him to keep being himself and he’s quietly confident.
“The season started a bit slow for him because he came back a bit later because he got married.
“But that was because of the Copa America so he missed pre-season – but I’m delighted with him.”
Solskjaer’s insistence on a more united squad than the one under Mourinho has also helped Fred blossom.
He added: “Before he had two or three players that he was close to but now we’re more of a close unit, the groups are closer to each other and the national team so I know just what a handful he can be.” Everton trail Champions Leaguechasing United by five points and critics believe if they fail to beat them it will be tough to finish fifth with Chelsea and Liverpool next up. “I
Fred’s English has really improved as a result.”
He played 25 games last season but so far this campaign he has already played 35. Solskjaer believes there is still something missing from his game though – goals.
The midfielder responded with two late strikes in Thursday’s night’s 5-0 Europa League mauling of Brugge but Solskjaer clearly wants more.
“I wasn’t sure I was going to be alive when he scored his next goals!” said the Red Devils chief.
“He’s had loads of attempts, he gets to the box, in and around the box often enough and his right foot is decent as well – he’s just not had the luck.”
Solskjaer has also been encouraged by the form of defender Luke Shaw who is aiming to win back his England place ahead of Euro 2020.
He said: “Luke is very focused, concentrated, works well in training, he’s consistently fit now, he’s fitter, he’s become a dad, he’s matured a lot and it’s great to see because Luke has had his difficulties and the injury in 2015 was a bad one.
“Mentally that has been difficult for him but he’s another one who you want to do well because he is such a positive boy.” wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s our final opportunity,” added Sidibe.
“We have the quality to be right up there battling nearer the top but it’s going to be a challenge for the rest of the season.
“United and Chelsea are slightly above us currently but I believe we have it in our locker to get up there.
We all know about our manager, his experience and his success and I think we have a sprinkling of real talent throughout the team, up front and defensively.
“In order to achieve fifth, we’ve got to make sure we win every game at home and avoid defeat away. It’s a tall order but we feel we have the tools to do it.”