Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes both acting the same towards Man Utd team-mates

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes have both challenged Manchester United players this season, according to Fred. The pair are two vital assets at Old Trafford. But they’ve been powerless to prevent the Red Devils from enduring a problematic campaign so far.

Manchester United signed Fernandes in the January transfer window of 2020, with the midfielder shining in the time since.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, returned from Juventus in the summer after 12 years away having previously looked set to join Manchester City.

With both Fernandes and Ronaldo being shining lights for the club in recent times, they’re well-respected figures inside the dressing room.

And Fred, speaking to ESPN Brasil, has revealed the pair have both challenged their team-mates over the course of the season.

“Everyone wants to have a great performance, both for themselves and the group, and if something goes wrong, we’ll demand from ourselves,” he said.

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“We had some defeats, after the games we questioned ourselves there in the dressing room, he challenged the others, Bruno [Fernandes] challenged the others, I did, I demanded from myself too, I could have done better.

“So this is normal, if the performance isn’t good, you have to have this self-criticism, for yourself as well as for others.”

Fred does believe, however, that Ronaldo is a positive influence at the club.

Some think the Red Devils’ issues this term stem from the 36-year-old and a need to cram him into the team.

Yet Fred has only positive things to say about the veteran.

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“His impact was very positive,” said the Samba star.

“It’s obvious that in the first games, it was difficult for us, we had some defeats in some big matches, but I think his impact was very positive because a quality player, as great as Cristiano, being able to share the locker room, being able to have a day-to-day life with him, is very important.

“It’s like I say, it’s hard for you to get there, but it’s even harder to keep up, and he stayed on top, he works for it.

“It’s an honour to be able to work with him, to be able to share the locker room.”

Alex Telles also spoke to the publication about Ronaldo.

And the former Porto star agreed with Fred that having the forward in their squad was a positive, instead of a negative.

“He’s a very involved guy, as everyone already knows,” said Telles.

“He’s a winning guy, who has reached the maximum level, and to reach his level he has to be very competitive.

“He really gives this positive help and he just wanted to help and it’s very positive for all of us.”

Now, Ronaldo and the rest of the United squad will be managed by Ralf Rangnick.

The German has been hired as an interim replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked last month.

And Arsenal legend Thierry Henry thinks Ronaldo still has a big part to play under Rangnick.

“We shouldn’t talk about the man, what he can achieve, what he can do, or what he did achieve and what he can still do,” he said.

“Now, it’s going to have to be a discussion between Rangnick and him because we all know that’s part of the game he lacks the most and that is part of the game Rangnick likes the most – pressing and counter-pressing.

“So, they need to have a discussion on who is going to give up a little bit on what they usually like to do and ego’s going to have to be put on the side at one point for the good of this club.

“It shouldn’t be a Ronaldo thing or a Rangnick thing, they need to find a way to pull this club forward.”

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