Whether it be Arsenal's stuttering push for a top-four finish in the Premier League or Oldham Athletic fighting for survival in League Two, every football club has its scapegoat.
And in Manchester United's case the unwanted title has often fallen at the feet of Brazilian midfielder Fred.
No matter the result or the level of performance United have produced, Fred, more often than not, has been the figure within the dressing room that has had to face up to the brunt of the criticism, particularly by the more vocal on social media.
As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tenure as United manager moved closer towards its conclusion, the Norwegian's decision to consistently include Fred within his starting line-up would attract waves of criticism and abuse. Again, it was largely unjustified, with the Brazilian not the sole contributor to United's struggles.
Supporters were screaming for the former Shakhtar Donetsk man to be axed from the side and replaced by Donny van de Beek. However, Solskjaer stuck to his guns, continuing to stand by Fred and count on him to be a player he could rely on, regardless of what others thought.
The dismissal of Solskjaer and arrival of Ralf Rangnick, in the eyes of several United supporters, was going to be the game-changing moment, in the sense that Fred would be dropped from the starting line-up and replaced Van de Beek, with the fans becoming more and more desperate to see the Dutchman earn an opportunity to impress.
However, Fred, no matter what some sections of United's fan base may think, has justified his place within the team in recent weeks, going from strength to strength under Rangnick's management.
After intercepting Morgan Sanson's misplaced pass and claiming the assist for Bruno Fernandes' second goal in United's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday, Fred now has two assists in as many games and four direct goal contributions in the Premier League in his last six appearances, dating back to the 3-2 win over Arsenal in Michael Carrick's final game of caretaker charge last month. His tally includes three assists and the match-winning strike against Crystal Palace in Rangnick's first game in charge.
Furthermore, Fred played a key role in Cristiano Ronaldo's opener against Villarreal in the Champions League at the end of November, robbing Etienne Capoue of the ball high up the pitch, before it fell to Ronaldo's feet to lob goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
Fred has had a new lease of life since Solskjaer's departure, with him, judging by his attacking stats, being given the license to push higher up the pitch and venture into positions not normally expected of him.
But whilst his assists against Arsenal last month and against Villa in the FA Cup last Monday were as a result of him either making a smart run or finding space out wide to swing in a cross, his assist for Fernandes' second at Villa Park and for Ronaldo's against Villarreal were as a result of him carrying the press and doing exactly what Rangnick wants from his players.
The 28-year-old, who has started four of United's six Premier League games under Rangnick so far, has carried the biggest threat of anyone when it has come to applying the press that the German is looking for, with his desire to win the ball back for Fernandes' second goal on Saturday a perfect example of what is required to suit United's system.
When you consider that Fred's tally of direct goal contributions in United colours stands at 17, the fact that six of them have come this season, and four since Rangnick's appointment, suggests that he has not been the root of United's troubles. Far from it. If anything, he has been quite the opposite, with his desire and determination, certainly in United's most recent matches, been there for all to see.
Fred, clearly, has built the trust of Rangnick and it raises one important question: surely two managers can't be wrong? After all, Fred has now been utilised by four different United managers, including Carrick during his temporary stint at the helm, since joining the club in 2018.
Whilst the need for a central defensive-midfielder does grow stronger and more and more apparent, Rangnick's style and approach would look all the more fragile and lost without Fred's presence, with his statistics and recent performances proving exactly that.
Some opinions, regardless of the evidence produced, will never be changed. But Fred's effort and desire cannot be questioned.
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