Fred: Manchester United focused on 'short-term goals' with interim manager

Manchester United midfielder Fred believes playing with an interim manager for over half the season proves the club is currently "all about the short-term goals."

The 28-year-old spoke candidly in an interview with Brazilian broadcaster TNT Sports, where he was quizzed on what it was like to not have a permanent boss in charge of United following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dismissal in November.

"It is a bit strange," Fred admitted about the situation at United, according to BBC Sport.

Ralf Rangnick was appointed as Solskjaer's successor on an interim basis. The German will assume a consultancy role at the club when the season is over.

"I know, in football, it's important to get good results as soon as possible, but it's also important to have a long-term plan," Fred said. "I think it's a little bit bad for us not to have one. At the moment, it's all about the short-term goals."

Manchester United haven't hoisted a trophy since winning the Europa League in 2017 - a considerable drought given the English giants' lofty standards. Over the ensuing years, the club has lost finals in the UEFA Super Cup (2017), FA Cup (2018), and the Europa League (2021), and it's been no closer than 12 points to a Premier League title.

"With all due respect to Villarreal, it was our job to win that Europa League final, and we failed," Fred said. "It's about having a better football planning on the club.

"If you don't want to win titles, you don't deserve to play for Manchester United. We're still in the Champions League, but let's see if we arrive better on next season to find our peak football."