'We can win the Europa League, I respect the coach's decision!' Fred's comments on Tedesco and Galatasaray derby...

Fenerbahçe will face Çaykur Rizespor on Sunday evening in the 13th week of the Trendyol Super Lig. 32-year-old midfielder Fred gave an interview at Fenerbahçe Can Bartu Facilities.

"Our aim is to beat Galatasaray"

Stating that they are fighting against Galatasaray in the race for the top and they want to win all the points, the Brazilian player said, "I think it will be a good match. We expect that we will face a good team. We cannot tolerate any loss of points. Right now the race is close between Galatasaray and us. There is a one-point difference. We want to collect as many points as we can. Our aim will of course be to get a win."

"We can win the Europa League"

Stating that their target in the UEFA Europa League is also the championship, Fred continued as follows: "I can say that we are progressing well in the Europa League. We have collected 7 points in the last matches. Of course we want to win this match as well. I think we are a good team, we can win the Europa League. We have goals in both the Europa League and the Super League and we need to take firm steps towards these goals. I think we can win both of these organizations. We have a good squad, we are a good team. We have very high quality players so I think we have a good chance."

"I respect my coach's decision, I am ready to play"

Fred stated that he is in good physical condition and would like to play if given the task. Reminding that he took part in many positions under former manager Jose Mourinho, Fred said, "Unfortunately, I was on the bench in the last period, but I always respect the decision of the coach. I trained well. I'm not a player who likes to be on the bench, but again, this is the decision of the coach and I respect this decision. I'm always ready, I always try to do my best. I think I played a good game in the last match. Of course, I want to get more time, I want to play more, it depends on the coach. I am ready and I feel very good."

"If we win the championship, we will make history"

Stating that he can play in any position in the midfield if given the task by technical director Domenico Tedesco, Fred said: "My purpose in Fenerbahce is to contribute and help my coach, my team and Fenerbahce. I want to do my best to help Fenerbahçe become champions. If we talk about this season, I think we are a good team, we are in a good situation, we can be champions. If we win the championship, of course we will make history."

"We believe and trust our coach"

Fred Rodrigues said that coach Domenico Tedesco has done a very good job since joining the team. "I want to say that I have good feelings towards our coach, he is a great person, a great technical man. He was with the Belgian national team before and I think he did a good job there. He came here to help Fenerbahce's goals. I can say that the coach is doing a good job."

Explaining that they are always together with Tedesco, the star player said: "As a team, we have great respect for him. We think we are on a good path. Our coach's trainings and tactical evaluations are very good for me. Actually, the key phrase is; we believe in him, we trust him and we trust ourselves.

We are on a good path right now and we need to continue this way. We need to continue modestly, with our feet on the ground. There will be very important, big and critical matches ahead of us. We have to win these matches as well. The coach is a really good coach and we are moving forward together. We have to win the games ahead of us."

"Our coach has a big role in ensuring unity"

The Brazilian star player stated that coach Domenico Tedesco had an important influence on the team's recent unity. Underlining that they have to act together for success, Fred said: "I think we have a good squad, the most important thing here is that we act together. The presence of our coach in ensuring unity is undeniable. But not only our coach, everyone contributes to this. Our fans, those working at the facility. We are together and we are one heart, we need to maintain this. I want to say that we are in a very good situation right now."

"Galatasaray derby is very meaningful"

Fred stated that the Galatasaray derby they will play in the 14th week of the league is very meaningful. Emphasizing that derbies are very special, Fred said: "Galatasaray derby is very meaningful. Derbies mean a lot in Turkey. In fact, they are very important all over the world. Derbies are very special here, we are aware of that. But first we need to focus on the Çaykur Rizespor match. We will play the derby at home, in front of our fans. Unfortunately, we didn't have good results against Galatasaray in the last home games. I think we are in a much better position now and we will win that game too. We will focus on that. We need to show our maximum strength in the home match. Together with our fans, we want to give 100 percent and win. Of course it is important to win these matches in order to continue and reach our goals in the league."

"Ederson asked me about the club"

Fred said that he and goalkeeper Ederson, his friend from the Brazilian National Team, met during the transfer process. Stating that Ederson is a very important footballer, Fred said, "Ederson is a great person and a great footballer. We played together in the national team and we played against each other in the Manchester derby in England. He talked to me before he came here. He asked me about Istanbul and the club and I said very positive and nice things. In the end he chose to come to Fenerbahçe. It was important that he chose here. His influence and contribution to the team is important. We are happy to have him here. He is a great person and a great footballer."

When asked about Fenerbahce's Jose Mourinho and Besiktas' Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with whom he had worked in England before in his career and who left their positions in Turkey at the beginning of this season, Fred replied as follows: "I have worked with both of them, they are both great managers. I worked with Mourinho both at Manchester United and here and I think positive things about both coaches. Solskjaer is also an important coach. I like them, both coaches have helped me a lot. But I can't make a technical comment on why they failed in Turkey. They are both very nice people and very good managers."

When asked 'What advice would you give to a young Fred if you were to go back to the beginning of your career', Fred replied: "It would have been to come to Fenerbahçe earlier."

Stating that he has always played football with passion and that he is very happy to play for Fenerbahçe, the Brazilian midfielder said the following about president Sadettin Saran: "Election periods are not easy for players. But if we talk about this season in particular, there have been a lot of changes. As footballers, we have to focus our minds on the field. But in terms of communication, I can say that if we talk about both the management, the president and the previous president, there is a good communication. I can say that we get along well. It was like this with the previous administration and it is like this now. They help us. The current president and administration are no different. We are in good communication with the new management and the new president. In this sense, football players also need to focus on football. Of course there is a lot of talk, but our focus should be on the pitch so that we can win the matches we play."