Watch: Fred tries bizarre overhead-kick clearance & falls on his backside
Manchester United midfielder Fred has been in good form in recent weeks, but in Wednesday night’s Premier League fixture against Brentford, he showed he still has a penchant for an odd moment with a bizarre bicycle-kick clearance attempt.
Going into Manchester United’s Wednesday-night game at the Brentford Community Stadium, midfielder Fred had been in good form.
In December, Rio Ferdinand said: “The biggest problem was [Fred] was jumping out of the team shape. He’d see a ball and just go, not think about what was behind him. In that position where he plays in front of back four you need that awareness. He never had that.
“Now with the team so structured [under Rangnick], if he does go, other players will fill in because there’s an understanding and they’ll be tactically more aware.”
Ferdinand’s words have proved prescient. Fred has been handed more freedom to roam from the base of midfield under Ralf Rangnick than under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and has made the most of it.
In his previous five starts prior to the Brentford fixture, the Brazil international had managed four goal contributions – three assists and one goal.
But Fred has often frustrated Manchester United fans since his £50million move from Shakthar Donetsk in 2018. And in west London, he reminded us why.
A Brentford corner was looped into the United penalty area and goalkeeper David de Gea, in the middle of a significant crowd of bodies, was forced to punch the ball away.
His punch was not wildly effective and fell to Fred. For some reason, the 28-year-old decided his best option was to attempt an overhead-kick clearance.
Unsurprisingly, it didn’t work. Fred took an age to set himself and then just tumbled backwards, falling flat on his arse.
Not graceful, but no harm done.
— Out of Context Manchester United (@nocontextunited) January 19, 2022
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