Bruno Fernandes has hailed Fred and Scott McTominay for their "really important" roles in Manchester United's thrilling 4-2 victory over rivals Leeds on Sunday.
United claimed a vital three points in the race for a top four Premier League finish and subsequent Champions League qualification, surviving a second-half scare at Elland Road.
Harry Maguire headed in the opener for the Red Devils, their first goal from a corner all season, before Fernandes himself nodded in a second moments before half time.
Two goals in the space of a minute saw Leeds hit back shortly after the interval as Rodrigo's mishit cross sailed over David De Gea, before substitute Raphinha tapped in a dramatic equaliser.
With the match taking a chaotic turn, Ralf Rangnick made a double change, swapping Paul Pogba for Fred and Jesse Lingard for Anthony Elanga in the hope of turning the tide back in United's favour.
And the German's substitutes duly delivered.
First, Fred smashed home to restore United's lead, before Elanga slotted under Illan Meslier to seal all three points following neat work from Fernandes.
Speaking after the match, Fernandes revealed that both Fred and his fellow midfielder McTominay are integral to United's cause.
"Obviously, Fred is a player that works hard, and he is the kind of player who does not get a lot of media (attention) because he works hard, recovers a lot of balls," the Portuguese playmaker told MUTV.
"He and Scotty (McTominay) are two players who are really important for us in many games. I am really happy for him, also for Anthony who gets his goal, he deserves that."
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While Fred claimed a lot of the accolades following his stellar cameo, McTominay put in a battling display in a match played in a hostile atmosphere, on a sodden Elland Road pitch.
United's midfield has been much maligned in recent times, but the influential displays from the pair went some way to silencing their doubters.
Sunday's clash was another high-scoring encounter between the two rivals, with the reverse fixture at Old Trafford finishing 5-1 - a match in which Fred again found himself on the scoresheet.
This one looked to be heading a similar way for United, but Rodrigo's wayward cross looped over De Gea and turned the game on its head.
Fernandes admitted that his side were guilty of complacency early in the second period as a Leeds riposte triggered a chaotic collapse.
"That was probably the problem for us," he added. "We think that we are in a great position, and we start to play a little bit sloppy on the passes, under pressure, and they get away with two goals."
The triumph was a crucial one for United as they looked to exploit West Ham's Saturday slip-up against Newcastle in the race for a top four finish.
The result leaves Rangnick's side four points above the Hammers in the table, though both Arsenal and Tottenham also remain in the hunt and each have three games in hand over United.
