Manchester United midfielder Fred spoke to the Brazilian media following their win against RB Leipzig for the Champions League last night.
The 27-year-old talked about the feeling of playing Europe’s top tournament again and the great start they’ve been having following their two wins in two games so far.
“It’s very important that we are playing the Champions League again. It’s a championship that we should never leave”, Fred told Esporte Interativo.
“And beating a team like Leipzig with that score is very important for us. Because as you said, it’s a team that were semi finalists last season, I think they are top of the German league. So it’s a great team, a good team, we had a lot of difficulties there in the first half but we knew how to fit in, play behind the defensive midfielder in the second half and managed to seek this great victory for us.”
In case you watch the video and hear something about Pablo Escobar, then that’s Manchester United’s press officer and Fred joking with Esporte Interativo reporter Fred Caldeira, who’s recently grown a huge moustache.
Jürgen Klopp called him the same earlier this week.
Fred had already done well in the match against Paris Saint Germain last week, and talked about the good form he’s been having in the Champions League this season, besides being praised by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“Very happy for that, for being important to the team. It’s very important that the coach is praising. We’re coming from a great game sequence. A difficult sequence and a great sequence. Fortunately, I’ve been playing all these games. Today I missed some passes there in the middle, I know I can improve a lot. But I’m happy to be important to the team, to give the blood on the pitch, to run as fast as possible. Helping the team, that’s important.”
“And the important thing is also that we didn’t concede a goal today. One more clean sheet, so this is important for us, two games and two clean sheets, so we have to continue in this sequence. We have to think about the next game against Arsenal. A very difficult game. So we have to rest and prepare for the next game.”
When asked about Marcus Rashford and his campaign against child poverty, Fred claims they’re all proud of their teammate.
“Man, very happy for him. First because he’s doing what he’s doing off the pitch. Everyone is following it. This is an extraordinary job. And he’s been doing a great job on the pitch too. Today he came in and did a hat-trick. This is important to us, important to the group, important to him. So we’re very happy for him, for everything he’s been doing. I hope he grows more and more as a person and as a player too.”
Manchester United now face Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday, and then fly to Turkey, where they play İstanbul Başakşehir for the Champions League’s third fixture on Wednesday.
