Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez wasn't shy about dishing out praise to Erik ten Hag in the build-up to this week's eagerly anticipated Europa League showdown with Manchester United.
Xavi's side headed to Old Trafford off the back of a 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp last week knowing they would need to outwit a team that has made significant progress under a new manager in recent months.
With that in mind, Xavi was under no illusions about the challenge that was in store. He openly lauded Ten Hag's man-management skills and highlighted how the Dutchman has been able to get some of United's most important players firing again during his impressive tenure.
Marcus Rashford's renaissance has been the main driving force behind United's strong form, but the impact Ten Hag has also had on the likes of Bruno Fernandes and, more recently, Jadon Sancho shouldn't be underestimated. But Xavi raised more than a few eyebrows when he pooled Fred in with that blockbuster trio in the build-up to Thursday's clash.
Xavi told The Times earlier this week: "He [Ten Hag] is very good, I like him a lot. He has built a team and is getting the best out of all his players. That speaks well of him. Tactically he is very good and he handles the dressing room very well.
"He is getting all the talent out of his players. You see [Jadon] Sancho, [Marcus] Rashford, the Portuguese guy [Bruno Fernandes]. And look how Fred is playing."
Fred has been one of the most polarising players in recent memory at Manchester United: it's not uncommon for the Brazilian midfielder to look unplayable one week and helpless the next.
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But the much-maligned 29-year-old reserved one of his finest ever performances for one of Old Trafford's famous European nights. The former Shakhtar Donetsk man was dubbed a "mosquito" by Ten Hag and he flitted everywhere to stifle Barcelona by preventing the likes of Frenkie de Jong from gaining a stranglehold on the match. And he capped a statement display with a stunning goal which effectively turned the entire game on its head early in the second-half.
Fred's performance will evidently have come as no surprise to Barcelona after Xavi singled him out. And his own boss was quick to lavish praise on the United ace after the match.
Ten Hag said: "He had an important role already last week in Barcelona. First to stop Frenkie de Jong playing, he had to play as a mosquito around him and go behind him, and he did it magnificent.
"Last week he gave a brilliant assist for Rashy [Marcus Rashford] and today he scored a goal. Brilliant performance."
