Manchester United have lodged an appeal with the FA asking for Fred’s European ban to be extended to their domestic fixtures also.
The Brazilian was sent off during United’s weekly obligatory home defeat, on this occasion to Paris Saint-Germain, and will now serve a suspension on the continent.
However, after closely analysing Fred’s performance last night, United’s coaching staff begged the club to negotiate a similar ban with the FA for their midfielder.
The 27-year-old has become boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s ‘go-to’ man for needlessly surrendering possession and conceding free-kicks in dangerous areas this season.
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But with the Norwegian hoping to pull another one of his trademark job-saving results out of the bag at West Ham this weekend, he’s decided to act.
“Fredsy’s one of the top players in this league when it comes to setting up an opposition attack with a misplaced s**t pass”, Solskjaer told Paddy Power News.
I don’t fancy spending Christmas at home, that’s why the club and I are working hard to have him suspended for Saturday too.
When the 47-year-old was pressed regarding whether Fred should’ve been replaced at half-time, he argued: “It depends. In terms of trying to win a game of football with 11 men on the pitch, then you’d have to say yes. But, if you’re looking at it any other way, then the answer is no”.
Meanwhile, fans and pundits alike were in awe of Fred’s 70-minute-long quest to receive a red card last night, with many describing it as the most committed pursuit of an early bath since Steven Gerrard’s 38-second cameo for Liverpool against United in 2015.
“You have to feel for Fred. He did everything he could to be shown that red card after only 20 minutes but the referee’s robbed him by showing the yellow”, sympathised former United star and BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand.
“Fair play to the player. He didn’t let his head drop and finally got the red he deserved. I’d have been proud of some of those challenges”, gushed Paul Scholes.
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