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Manchester United fans have extended their support to Fred after his influential display in the 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur powered by Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick on Saturday.
The Brazilian midfielder has often received criticism from fans for his performances in a Manchester United shirt. However, his performance against Spurs revealed a side to him that fans believe could help the club in the future.
Fred laid out the assist for Ronaldo's opening goal with a delightful flick. The Portuguese forward deserves due credit for finding the back of the net with his thunderous long-range strike, but that moment set the tone for Fred.
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The Manchester United midfielder grew in confidence as the game progressed and stamped his authority on the game. Fred was clearly the best midfielder on the pitch and rightfully deserved all the plaudits.
Speaking about his display against Spurs, one fan made a bold claim on Twitter:
"Forget Ronaldo, Fred is the Man of the Match."
Here are some of the other reactions:
Fred, who arrived at Old Trafford from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2018, has notched up 30 appearances in all competitions this term. The 29-year-old has registered three goals and six assists as well.
Cristiano Ronaldo makes history en route to incredible Manchester United hat-trick
In addition to guiding his team to a much-needed win, Cristiano Ronaldo also achieved some personal glory during the win over Tottenham. The Portugal international is now the leading goalscorer in professional football, with 807 officially recorded strikes to his name.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner surpassed former Austrian-Czech forward Josef Bican (805) with his second goal of the night and then capped it off with his 59th career hat-trick. It was also the first time he has netted three goals in a game since securing his return to Manchester United last summer.
The Red Devils returned to fourth-place in the Premier League after the win. But the likes of Arsenal, West Ham and Tottenham below them have games in hand. Ralf Rangnick will be aware that his team must string together a run of good results to enjoy some breathing space in the race for Champions League qualification.
Manchester United next face Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie at Old Trafford on Tuesday. The Premier League giants will be keen to build on their win over Spurs and secure their berth in the quarter-finals of the Champions League next.
