Fred’s comments show what Erik ten Hag has brought back to Manchester United

Manchester United and the connections players share with fans is an incredibly unique phenomenon at the club.

Throughout Manchester United‘s history, fans and players have always shared a connection to the club, in that many of the players who have represented the Red Devils are fans of the club themselves.

A lot of this is down to the fact that some of the most famous and iconic players in the club’s history have risen through the ranks of Manchester United themselves, such David Beckham, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, and now those such as Marcus Rashford are having a similar impact.

Even those who did not come from the academy and maybe supported other clubs growing up, such as Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, shifted their heart-felt allegiances and became one with the fans in supporting the success of the club beyond a professional level – it’s an infectious trait that Manchester United possessed.

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After Sir Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013, the connection between players and fans started to show holes. Whereas before there was a sense of unconditional support from the Old Trafford faithful, cracks started to appear due to the mental toll of the club’s many failures since their last Premier League title.

This connection between fans and club has also taken a significant hammering in the last 15 years due to the ownership of the Glazer family, of whom Manchester United fans have always held a strong opinion against, with consistent protests, chants, and green-and-gold flags, scarves, and banners being paraded around the famous ground ever since they took majority control of the club.

Connection between the players and fans had hit an all-time low in the last five years, with now infamous instances such as Paul Pogba arguing with fans after a game providing key moments that represent just how fractured the relationship had become.

However, in the build-up to Manchester United’s next fixture against Leeds United at Old Trafford, Fred, who has spoken to club media head of the Premier League battle, has proved what Erik ten Hag has rekindled at United: a bond between fans and players.

“When we score, we’ll celebrate our goals with the fans, run towards the cameras,” the Brazilian said. “This is to make everyone happy and for the fans to be behind us at all times.”

Fred’s recognition of the importance fans have during a game of football is an aspect that has felt lost in the last few years at the club, and something which Ten Hag as restored at the 20-time champions of England.

Running and celebrating with the fans has been a key highlight of United this season, with Marcus Rashford’s recent goal against Crystal Palace providing a brilliant example moment between players and fans as he was pictured hugging one supporter in the aftermath of the goal.

The same goes for other examples such as Lisandro Martinez’s goal away against Arsenal, with his first mention after scoring his first goal for United being how brilliant it felt to see the fans celebrating in the away end.

Erik ten Hag has been consistent in his message that United is a club of, for, and by the fans – and his message has quite clearly gotten through to those in the dressing room.

The players don’t play for themselves, they play for those who turn up to Old Trafford every week. They play for those who wake up at ungodly hours to support the side halfway around the world. They play for those who see United as the highlight of their week.

The connection between players and fans is stronger than it has been for a significant amount of time – and long may it continue.