Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham (Fred 47′, Fernandes 69′)
OLD TRAFFORD — It turns out we have been wrong about Fred all along.
“Fred will tear you apart again” came booming down from Stretford End supporters unable to comprehend what they were seeing.
With the club seemingly oblivious to their lack of investment in such a key area of the pitch, for more than a decade, Fred became the embodiment of a Manchester United side not fit for purpose in recent years.
Alongside Scott McTominay, the pair have not provided United’s backline with sufficient protection for a long, long time. Any improvement was always held back by an engine room without the horsepower to drive the team forward.
Perhaps it was the position, rather than the quality of the player, holding him back however. Fred, playing in a more advanced role with Casemiro more than capable of protecting the United backline on his own, simply ran the show against Tottenham, scoring one and playing a major part in the other.
It seems bewildering to even write, but Spurs could not with him. In an attacking midfield position he fulfils for his country, Fred inspired United to by far their most scintillating display… since Spurs at home last season. It was a sight to behold.
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A disappointing stalemate at home to Newcastle on Sunday, when United had just two shots on target all match, further emphasised the task at hand for Erik ten Hag. This sleeping giant remains difficult to raise from its slumber.
When United are alive and awake, however, there is talent and vibrancy within the ranks, as Spurs found out in a blistering first half at Old Trafford with United raining in 19 shots on Hugo Lloris’s goal, five of which were on target.
For all Marcus Rashford’s all-round improvement this term, the finishing could still do with some work, as was the case when, mid-United barrage, just after Antony had struck the foot of the post with what is becoming a trademark curler, Rashford should have broken the deadlock, but fired too close to Lloris.
The pass from Fred – playing in a more advanced position now United finally have a competent midfield anchor in the side in Casemiro – into Rashford was sublime, giving fans a reminder there is a quality footballer in there, somewhere.
There was another rasping strike from Fred that needed tipping over from Lloris, Bruno Fernandes also sent a powerful strike flying over while Casemiro pinged a left-footed effort just wide. It was beyond relentless.
Spurs had openings of their own, with Harry Kane forcing David de Gea into a smart save, but this was the kind of first-half performance success-starved United supporters have been yearning for, for a long while.
The rather incongruous sight of Fred driving the team forward, arriving on the edge of the penalty area with Frank Lampard-style precision, added to the bizarre spectacle for fans who had been wishing there was drying paint to watch elsewhere on Sunday.
The worrying aspect for those thoroughly entertained supporters inside Old Trafford was that from 19 efforts at goal – the most they have had in a single full game this season – the scoreline remainder goalless and keeping up such a pace for 90 minutes is not something United have managed for years.
Man Utd are in front against Spurs!
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) October 19, 2022
Fred's effort goes in via a deflection!
Watch #MUNTOT LIVE: https://t.co/XBvNsMnOae pic.twitter.com/pCp60RX3KY
Old Trafford need not have worried, with many supporters still finishing off their pies in the concourses as the reborn Fred’s side-footed effort was deflected in – luck both he and United more than deserved.
The breathless Brazilian was at the heart of United’s game-clinching second, stroked home by Fernandes to finish Spurs off. From there on in, with supporters, somewhat sarcastically, singing his name, it remained the Fred show.
Fred was first to every loose ball, first into the tackle, and unfathomably had six shots at goal on the match. He had only managed six shots all season before Spurs’ visit.
It was a performance four years in the making. It could well be a false dawn for a player who has rarely put together consecutive good performances, never mind a run of form, but at least he has proven capable, when played in the role he specialises in.
Man Utd player ratings
David de Gea – Saw four shots go wide in the first half and could have watched the majority of the opening 45 minutes from a deckchair, but was alert just before the break to keep a Kane effort out. Didn’t know Kane was offside when denying the England captain at just 1-0. 6/10
Diogo Dalot – Got into some dangerous areas in the first half and defended capably – on the rare occasion – as well. 7/10
Raphael Varane – A happy passenger for most of the match, but solid enough when called upon. 6/10
Lisandro Martinez – Made more tackles than his defensive partner but overall this was a match not played in their half. 6/10
Luke Shaw – With United on top Shaw enjoyed plenty of freedom down the left and tested Lloris with a stinging volley in the first half. 7/10
Casemiro – Rarely called upon in the first half-hour – at one point United had 91 per cent possession in the past five minutes – but almost broke the deadlock with a long-distance effort that sailed a whisker wide. Quality throughout and gave license for Fred to attack. 7/10
Fred – One of his best performances in a United shirt. Picked ahead of Scott McTominay, he barely put a foot wrong and with United’s 20th shot he finally put the hosts ahead. He didn’t stop there, with some relentless closing down and further attempts making this an evening to remember for Fred. Seriously. 8/10
Antony – Cut inside aplenty a la Arjen Robben, and saw one early curler clip the outside of the far post. Forever looking for the ball, forever using his left foot too. 7/10
Bruno Fernandes – Tough call, so we’ll say United’s joint-best player along with Fred. Tidy dummy kick-started a United attack and he then almost forced the error from Lloris. Continued to make United tick with the hosts dominating and got the goal his performance deserved after the break. “Would I be stirring the pot if I said Bruno looked happier without Ronaldo in the side?” Alan Shearer asked on Amazon Prime. Yes, Alan, you would, but you’re also probably right. 8/10
Jadon Sancho – With almost an hour gone and United 21 shots down, the fact we had barely noticed Sancho perhaps tells its own story, although he did at least lay it off for Fred to bag an assist. Beyond that though, copying Antony’s relentless desire wouldn’t go amiss. 6/10
Marcus Rashford – Did everything but score. He was the one United change with Cristiano Ronaldo dropping to the bench, and was denied by two world-class saves from Lloris after the break. Ronaldo may well think he’d have tucked them away, but United just don’t play like this when the Portuguese is their focal point. 7/10
Subs:
Scott McTominay – On late for Antony as United looked to preserve their two-goal lead. 6/10
Christian Eriksen, Anthony Elanga – Late subs for United. n/a
Tottenham player ratings
Hugo Lloris – Almost fumbled an early effort but made amends with five first-half saves. Could do little to prevent Fred’s deflected strike going in but then made arguably his best stop when denying Rashford. You can copy and paste that, as he made another terrific save from Rashford soon after. Spurs’ loss was not his fault by any means. 7/10
Cristian Romero – Spurs may not have a busier night all season, and there was little for Romero to enjoy about it on a difficult night for the visitors. 5/10
Eric Dier – Took a shot to the face in the first half, typifying the effort from a Spurs defence very much under the cosh. A sloppy chest of the ball gifted United possession for their goal. 5/10
Ben Davies – After a tiring first half it was his dangling leg that sent a tame Fred shot into the corner of the net. He was better off letting Lloris make a simple save. 6/10
Matt Doherty – Skimmed Sancho but shot well wide in the end, although primarily he was busy helping his defence. 6/10
Rodrigo Bentacur – Was Spurs’ best attacking outlet early on and flashed a shot wide inside five minutes, but those moments were few and far between. 5/10
Yves Bissouma – In for the injured Richarlison, it was evident Conte was lining his side up more defensively, and Bissouma was ultimately part of a central midfield three who were ineffective going forward and very busy dealing with wave after wave of attack. 6/10
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – Busy evening and an immensely frustrating one, too. Spurs’ midfield were totally outclassed and Hojbjerg could do little to prevent Fernandes from running the show. 6/10
Ivan Perisic – Cut a frustrated figure when teammates opted to shoot instead of cross, although the Perisic was not exactly in goalscoring positions himself. 6/10
Son Heung-min – A night to forget for Son, or should that be a night to forget what the forward did. Hardly his fault, though. 5/10
Harry Kane – Superb pass setup a decent chance for Doherty, but quiet thereafter in the first half. Almost scored a quick equaliser for Spurs. Was offside when testing De Gea after the break, but he’ll want to forget this match quickly. 5/10
Subs:
Ryan Sessegnon, Davinson Sanchez, Lucas Moura – Triple sub too little too late from Spurs. n/a
Oliver Skipp, Djed Spence – An even later double sub. n/a
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