Alex Telles claims “Motorzinhos” Fred is the fundamental engine of Manchester United
Fred has had a great couple of games being the fundamental engine of Manchester United, which has prompted his teammate Alex Telles to name him “motorzinhos”. The former was revitalised under the tenure of Michael Carrick and has carried that form into Ralf Rangnick’s reign.
The 28-year-old midfielder gave Rangnick the first win as the manager of the Red Devils after netting against Crystal Palace in the Premier League. He was also excellent against Arsenal, which helped the team complete a comeback and get the three points.
Speaking in an interview with the club’s matchday programme, United Review (h/t Manchester United official website), Telles revealed how his compatriot is sacrificial in the way he plays for the team, making him a crucial component of the system.
“In Brazil, we call players like this motorzinhos. They are the team’s engine, playing deep and looking to recover the ball. I think he had a key role in the game against Villarreal – the two goals we scored came from Fred’s ball recoveries. We know how important he is for the team and I’m really happy for him.”
“But, on the pitch, I believe that Fred has a fundamental role within the team. He’s a player with a quality that I like, he’s someone who runs for the team. He doesn’t just think about his own position, he thinks about the positioning of numerous other players, and he’s always running and covering various positions.”
Long awaited breakthrough?
It is well known how the Brazilian midfielder divided opinions amongst the Red Devils faithful under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. There were times when he did not deserve it but was a scapegoat for poor collective performances. However, his resurgence has seen him get plaudits and recognition from most fans following the club.
Like the 28-year-old left-back mentioned, the Red Devils midfielder could excel in the new system used by the German coach. His energy and workrate seem like a good match with the heavy metal style preferred by the interim manager.
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At the same time, the compact 4-2-2-2 formation also allows him not to get caught out due to his teammates being nearby. While we should not get carried away, if he could build on this and improve on the technical side of the game, he could turn into a complete midfielder.
The summer transfer window saw us sign big names but none in the centre of the park. But if Fred continues to impress, we may not have to worry about one half of our central midfield in the near future.
