Ben Guest
Jose Mourinho has been discussing the qualities of Marouane Fellaini after the Belgian battering ram’s midweek heroics in the Champions League.
Having been signed for £27.5 million from Everton back in 2013 by David Moyes, Fellaini has been an opinion-splitting figure during his time at Old Trafford, with some thinking that the fact he is such an important player for the Red Devils is an indicator of just how far the mighty have fallen.
However, despite him having very obvious footballing limitations, he has been an important player for all three of Sir Alex Ferguson’s successors at Manchester United, with Moyes, van Gaal and Mourinho all utilising the big Belgian.
The freshly trimmed Fellaini popped up with a 91st minute winner against Young boys in midweek to send United through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, and Mourinho has said that his number 27 is a very useful and important player to have around.
“I think now he’s getting [the credit], I think until I came probably no but I think now everyone gives him what he deserves,” Mourinho told the press ahead of his sides away game against Southampton tomorrow.
“Everybody knows Marouane is not Maradona but everyone knows what Marouane is and what he can give.
“In this moment, especially this season and also last season he did many times what strikers couldn’t do which is score goals in important moments.
“I know him very well and I know the positions he can play, the jobs he can do, this season you saw him as a third central defender against Burnley and you saw him as a striker and as a number eight, which is basically the position where Marouane has more balance and know how but he’s very important in both boxes, in the first third and in the last third.
“Now people know what Marouane is and he also feels that good feeling.”