Gary Neville believes Manchester United midfielder Fred has fallen out of favour with manager Erik ten Hag because of the player's ability on the ball.
The Brazil international has only featured from the substitutes bench as of late, last starting the second leg against Real Betis in southern Spain. Fred was once a regular for Ten Hag, starting every match in February as United progressed against Barcelona in the Europa League and lifted the Carabao Cup trophy after beating Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium.
Fred's fall from grace has also coincided with the return from injury of Christian Eriksen and the easing of Casemiro's disciplinary issues. Neville notes that the former has played a part in the midfield shakeup.
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Looking ahead to the FA Cup final versus Manchester City, the player-turned-pundit predicts the potential make-up of United's midfield before offering an insight into Fred's omissions. "I just think if we set up in such a way… I’m hoping that we go into the game with Bruno Fernandes on the right and that we stiffen up the midfield with Scott McTominay [holding] and Casemiro and Christian Eriksen or Marcel Sabitzer," Neville said on The Overlap. "And we go a bit more sort of thoughtful in the game.
"Doing what Arsenal did with the three in midfield that were attacking [was the wrong move]. We need to be a bit more [defensive].
"Erik ten Hag doesn’t like doing this, he likes to dominate the ball, he likes to control the ball.
"He’s left Fred out for the last few months because he wants Eriksen. I’ve got a little bit of an insight into why Fred’s not playing, Sabitzer is playing because he can hold [the ball]."
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