Erik ten Hag has labelled Fred ‘frenetic’ but believes he always brings quality to the side when he is given the chance.
The Brazilian was back in the starting XI for the clash with Omonia on Thursday night after largely being used as a substitute so far this campaign.
The midfielder has made just two Premier League starts, with Christian Eriksen, Scott McTominay and now moving ahead of him in the pecking order under Ten Hag.
However, he was starting again against the Cypriots, alongside Casemiro who he has forged a partnership with in the Brazil team.
Ten Hag says he is looking to make the most of the relationship his players have already built up for their national team, but also that Fred brings a ‘frenetic’ nature to the side which he reckons will be useful.
‘Yeah, definitely, and [it’s] one of the reasons,’ said Ten Hag on picking the pair on their Brazilian connection. ‘But also you see Fred doing so well in training. When he is coming in, he always brings the quality.
‘What we need definitely is counter-press today and he’s frenetic, so I think he’s a good choice today.’
Frenetic is not often heard from a manager describing their own player, but it does seem to suit Fred, meaning: ‘fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way.’
Fred came into the starting line-up, as did Tyrell Malacia and Cristiano Ronaldo, but it was otherwise a team that we would expect to see in the Premier League and Ten Hag explained that he is keen to keep building rhythm by fielding a strong side.
‘I want to keep the construction in the team,’ Ten Hag told BT Sport. ‘When you make too many changes, then, often, the routines go down and I want to avoid that. I want to keep the good constructions on the pitch but also, a little bit, rotate.’
, .
,  and .
