his early days as Manchester United's interim manager, when eight games in 30 days make it virtually impossible to start implementing some of his more complex ideas, Ralf Rangnick has made getting control in matches the priority.
It was ironic, therefore, that a player who is the epitome of haphazard play should secure three points on the German's debut in the Old Trafford dugout.
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Fred is a harum-scarum kind of player, someone who, to the untrained observer, tends to dash about with no obvious purpose.
Three Premier League goals in 86 appearances before his excellent winner in the 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace - and nine assists in 137 appearances in all competitions - is not the haul of an influential presence from an offensive perspective. Even defensively, when things are going against United, the Brazilian tends to be the target for derision.
Yet Michael Carrick, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did before him, showered Fred in praise last week and, realistically, if Rangnick is to make any significant progress between now and the end of the season, the midfielder will be a major factor.
"If you play the way we did with regard to intensity, being on the front foot, playing proactively and having four offensive players, it's highly important you have players behind who are very disciplined and proactively aggressive against the ball," said Rangnick. "Scotty [McTominay] and Fred are almost perfect defensively."
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