Carabao Cup: Solskjaer reveals why Fred took late free-kick against Man City

Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has defended the decision to allow Fred to take a late free-kick, in their 1-0 win over Manchester City in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

Nemanja Matic scored the only goal at the Etihad, as United dropped out of the competition on a 3-2 aggregate.

However, they had a chance to level the game from a set piece, after Nicolas Otamendi fouled Harry Maguire just outside the box.

While many expected Juan Mata to take the set-piece, Fred instead stepped up and hit the wall.

"Juan is the best one when he feels like it," Solskjaer said told reporters after the game.

"But they practiced yesterday and Juan told me that Fred was unbelievable in training.

"He scored six or seven on the bounce apparently, and they both felt this was his moment. That was the decision they made there and then. Probably the right decision, but it didn't work out well."