There can be no ignoring the obvious storylines heading into Manchester United's clash with Barcelona tomorrow night. This is a match that wouldn't look out of place in the latter stages of the Champions League, a famous tie that has been played as a final three times before, as two of the biggest behemoths in world football face off.
Then there are the individuals. Marcus Rashford is the man in form, Frenkie de Jong the one who got away, and Erik ten Hag is the manager who grew up idolising Johan Cruyff, a man as famous with Ajax as he is with Barcelona.
Yet, it could be an unsung hero who plays a key role in deciding the outcome, something that Xavi is well aware of himself.
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Speaking ahead of the match, the Barcelona manager told The Times of his admiration for Ten Hag, not only as a tactician, but also for his managerial ability.
Rashford and Jadon Sancho are the two clearest examples of that in recent weeks, but so too is Fred, a player who is so often frustrating but also so often fantastic.
“He is very good, I like him a lot," he said of the manager. "He has built a team and is getting the best out of all his players. That speaks well of him. Tactically he is very good and he handles the dressing room very well.
"Ten Hag is getting all the talent out of his players. You see Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, the Portuguese guy [Bruno Fernandes]. And look how Fred is playing . . ."
It says a lot that Xavi has taken notice of Fred's performances as of late, even more so that he chose to name-check him as one of those with talent.
The 29-year-old is the self-confessed 'piano carrier' who can be taken for granted, but on many occasions this season he has stolen the spotlight himself with spontaneous solos that have drawn focus away from the headline acts.
Last week's performance at the Camp Nou was perhaps the perfect reflection of Fred as a player. He was poor in the build-up to Barcelona's opening goal, but that seemed to spur him into life, and he played a key role in setting up Rashford for the immediate equaliser.
He won seven duels but committed six fouls. He completed 22 of his 31 pass attempts, but compensated for it with his perpetual pressing and high-energy approach.
It was a performance, like so many others, that divided opinion about the Brazilian. For every positive, there seemed to be a negative, and to evaluate the success, you have to take a step back and look at what you want from a midfielder in such a game.
There will be matches in which Fred is horribly exposed. His limited passing range and rash decision-making mean he is not well suited to matches that United are expected to control, with his erratic approach often resulting in the loss of possession or needlessly safe passing play.
Yet, there will be matches in which he will thrive. For the games in which United have to defend and play on the back foot, there are few better than the Brazilian at harassing opponents and suffocating the opposition midfield with his irritable approach.
The best example of this was last month when Fred performed a man-marking masterclass on Kevin de Bruyne, depriving Man City of their best creative outlet, which played a key role in United's resurgence in the match and eventual comeback.
It could well be a similar case on Thursday night too, when Barcelona head to Old Trafford and will look to play the game on their terms with a measured and methodical approach.
On a night where the visitors will be without Pedri and Gavi and rely on captain Sergio Busquets overcoming late fitness tests, the midfield battle could well be the deciding factor in the tie.
There is certainly a compelling argument to stick with Fred in a game that could well play to his advantages, if Xavi's endorsement isn't reason enough.
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