Manchester United manager responds to Fred criticism of squad

Man Utd midfielder Fred gave an interview where he criticised certain aspects of the squad and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has responded.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists he has no issue with Fred's comments that Manchester United have 'lots of problems'.

The 26-year-old said in a Portuguese interview with De Sola last week the United squad lacks the 'sticking together' mentality and has an issue with 'vanity'.

Fred has started the last 18 Premier League fixtures and was named the United player of the month for January, but Solskjaer brushed off the Brazilian's chat in his native language that was conducted in Fred's kitchen.

"This group sticks together," Solskjaer said. "Don't worry about that. I haven't seen the interview or I don't understand what he's saying. I've seen him sat there in his kitchen. Fred knows this is a group that wants to give everything for each other.

"I don't know how to interpret what he said but I've got no issues at all and I've got no issues with the group doing everything for each other."

United travel to Chelsea on Monday for their first game in 16 days after their winter break and have already beaten Frank Lampard's side twice this term - in the league and League Cup. Victory at Stamford Bridge would take United to within three points of fourth-placed Chelsea.

Scott McTominay (knee), Paul Pogba (ankle), Axel Tuanzebe and Timothy Fosu-Mensah will not be available and Marcus Rashford (back) is out until April, but Nemanja Matic is back from suspension. McTominay, Tuanzebe and Fosu-Mensah travelled with the squad to Marbella for United's warm weather training camp.

"How do you go about without playing with Marcus, Paul, Scott," Solskjaer asked rhetorically. "You deal with it.

"Players are going to get a chance. We had a great rest, beneficial for absolutely everyone in the squad; individually, the team, but [also] other teams and the league.

"The quality of the football will improve. January and December were relentless for us. It's a good move by the authorities to give us that weekend.

"At Man United, you don't get two weeks without games when you've got everyone. It's up to the boys to show their freshness."