Man Utd news: Jose Mourinho explains reason Fred was dropped for Burnley clash

The Brazil international completed his £52m move to Old Trafford over the summer and walked straight into Manchester United’s midfield alongside Paul Pogba.

Fred has failed to light up the Premier League so far this season.

And the former Shakhtar star found himself on the bench for the trip to Turf Moor this afternoon, being replaced by Marouane Fellaini in the middle of the park.

Mourinho lifted the lid on his selection decision while speaking pre-match.

“We hope [he helps at both ends of the field] & we hope he helps us to play against a team with a certain style of play,” Mourinho explained.

“We are going to try with Marouane [Fellaini] to cope with the problems that normally Burnley bring to every match.”

And Mourinho will be hoping Fellaini’s physicality can help stop Burnley’s gameplan being executed.

“They are physical, they are direct,” he added.

“They go very direct to the box, they try to create crossing situations, they try to have lots of set pieces.

“They are very pragmatic & we thought that we need a little bit of Marouane’s physicality for that.”

Speaking earlier this week, Mourinho sought to explain why his side aren’t as attacking as Liverpool or Manchester City.

And the United boss decided to blame United’s defensive frailties for his reluctance to play more eye-catching football.

“We will try [to play attacking football]. We are going to try, you know,” said Mourinho.

“It’s a process that has risks ­especially if you make the defensive mistakes that breaks that dynamic.

“The teams that are really, really good offensively are the teams that are very, very solid from the back.

“They play the way they play, and we play the way we play.

“I don’t even want to try to say something in relation to that.

“They are what they are and we are what we are.

“Against Tottenham, we were really positive and really strong and I think the opponent, a very good opponent, felt that and felt they were really in trouble.

“But two defensive mistakes in five minutes lost the game for us.”