Liverpool lynchpin Fabinho says he can’t understand why countryman Fred is so readily criticised for his Manchester United performances, suggesting he has been made a scapegoat for the team's struggles.
Fred's ability has been called into question by some fans and pundits who feel his central partnership with Scott McTominay is below the standard the club should accept. However, for now, he is expected to retain his place amid the arrival of Casemiro with the pair often playing alongside each other for Brazil.
After a solid pre-season, Fred has been critiqued for his passive role in United’s dismal start to the new campaign. But Fabinho, who will come up against his international teammate in Liverpool’s Old Trafford bout with United tonight, doesn’t get it.
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"Sometimes I don’t really understand the criticisms with Fred because he is a regular player, he always plays good football,” Fabinho told the Telegraph.
“In general Manchester United have not been successful in the last seasons so you try to find a solution or you try to put the fault on some of the players and sometimes I think Fred is that player.
"But he is a good player, in the national team, he is always a starter. He always plays good and, yes, sometimes the player needs a little bit more confidence to play good.”
He added: "Last season he played really good football, maybe he was one of the best United players. This season United didn’t start really good but I hope Fred will play good and United will stay playing like this."
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