Mourinho provides reasoning for Fred absence

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho explained why midfielder Fred has failed to start in the Premier League in five matches.

The Brazilian started in the late victory at Bournemouth at the beginning of November, but he has since fallen out of favour so much that he was not even among the substitutes for the midweek draw with Arsenal.

Fred voiced his concerns at a lack of playing time, suggesting that he could have been included in the Brazil squad had he have featured more regularly than six Premier League appearances since his £52m move from Shakhtar Donetsk this summer.

Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic and Jesse Lingard have all been chosen ahead of the Brazil international in recent matches, but Mourinho explained that Fred is still adapting to English football and is, therefore, paying the price for United’s current poor form.

“When the team is defensively stronger and does not need in midfield people that are more about giving some balance to the team than being involved in creating and attacking dynamics – the day we are stronger defensively, I think the horizons for Fred change completely,” said the United boss.

“You have also some other players in other clubs that needed time. You have some of them that play even less than what Fred is playing.”