Fred insists his form will improve

Manchester United midfield Fred is confident he will perform better this season after a difficult debut year. The Brazilian was signed by United for a fee of around £52million from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2018 as one of Jose Mourinho’s final pieces of business at the club.
However, he failed to perform in his first few appearances and subsequently never established himself as a first-team player at the club.
Last season, he played just 17 times in the Premier League, only starting 13 times.
The central midfielder, who has won 11 caps for his country since debuting in 2014, has begun to play more regularly this season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, starting their last two Premier League encounters – against Newcastle in a 1-0 defeat and Liverpool in Sunday’s 1-1 draw.
Paul Pogba’s absence through injury and Solskjaer’s reluctance to play Nemanja Matic means Fred could be given more chances over the coming weeks.
The 26-year-old admits he has not exactly been value for money at Old Trafford so far but feels he is improving his form after adapting from Ukrainian football. “You need to start games strongly and finish them strongly,” he said. “It’s the full force for 90 minutes, but it takes time to adapt to English football when you come from Ukraine, even though I was playing against some of the best teams in the Champions League. But I believe I’m adapting. “I’m learning day by day. I feel like I’m getting better. I have a big heart. I will play better.”
Fred came to United with a burgeoning reputation, having impressed for Shakhtar both domestically and in the Champions League.
However, he has been a victim of the uncertainty around the club since his arrival, with Mourinho losing his job in December before Solskjaer was appointed.
He will be hoping to figure for United when they travel to Serbia to take on Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League.
Then attention will turn to their trip to East Anglia to face Norwich at Carrow Road in the Premier League on Sunday.