Why Fred, Bruno Fernandes and Alex Telles have important roles off the pitch at Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has praised the affect Alex Telles, Fred and Bruno Fernandes have had in lifting spirits within the Manchester United dressing room this season.

United have been engaged in a demanding season since they kicked their first ball in mid-September, taking part in twice per week each week to date, a run that can proceed deep into April on the very least.

It has been a grind of matches, restoration periods and travelling for the United squad however they’re properly positioned in second within the Premier League, reached the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday evening and may ebook a spot within the FA Cup semi-finals at Leicester Metropolis at this time.

Fred and Fernandes have performed important roles on the pitch this season and whereas it has been a reasonably quiet first season at Outdated Trafford for Telles, he has shaped an in depth bond along with his countryman in addition to his former rival in Portugal.

“Three peas in a pod, you recognize – Fred, Bruno and Alex. They grasp round one another,” Solskjaer stated of that trio.

“A lot enthusiasm and starvation and have to get information about soccer, to take advantage of out of their careers. They watch all of the Brazilian video games and Portuguese video games and it’s loopy how these three preserve pushing one another on, preserve practising free kicks and photographs from exterior the field.

“And it’s nice to have these characters across the dressing room you recognize. As a result of it’s a tricky sufficient season if everyone seems to be simply going to deal with themselves, it’s nice to have teams and gamers with vitality and a little bit of smile, who put the Brazilian samba music on and a smile on faces and all this.”

Fred was one in every of United’s heroes within the San Siro on Thursday evening, shaking off an unconvincing first half to be a driving power after the break, when Paul Pogba’s purpose sealed United’s passage previous AC Milan.

He is lately handed a century of performances for United, a milestone he regarded unlikely to make after a sluggish begin to his Outdated Trafford profession, and Solskjaer is aware of how essential his presence is in midfield, highlighting his mentality, which he displayed towards Milan, as one in every of his largest strengths.

The vitality and depth and tenacity of the play in midfield, it builds loads of our defensive performances,” the United boss stated.

“There was a 3 or four-minute spell within the first half tonight the place every thing went fallacious for Fred however he by no means provides in, he’s obtained that enthusiasm to play and go once more.

“He’s a Brazilian – he likes to play, he likes to get on the ball, he’s by no means afraid of constructing himself accessible and prepared. So I’m so happy for the boy. He has been working so laborious since his tough begin on the membership.”