After being heavily linked with Galatasaray for most of the summer, Marouane Fellaini seems to be staying put. Jose Mourinho came out in support of the Belgian by saying Marouane was too important a player for him to leave.
However strange it might seem, Fellaini is a Manchester United success story. The fact that he’s managed to outlive some of the bigger names at Manchester United speaks volumes about how valued he is at the club; by the managers if not by the fans.
He might not possess any flashy skills and does have the tendency to pick up a booking every now and then; but he has proven time and again to be an able squad player simply down to his unpredictability. He has the ability to help out the defence by putting his body on the line; defend corners with his aerial prowess, provide an option for de Gea from goal kicks by chesting down the ball or heading it to a team-mate. He does score goals, important ones that too. He was influential in United’s FA Cup victory over Everton in the semi-finals, scored the crucial goal in United’s 2-1 win over Celta in the semi-finals of the Europa League.
He can frustrate at times, leading to boos from the United faithful. That is the absolute worst any footballer can go through. No one would like to be booed by his own set of fans. But Marouane somehow manages to keep all the negativity aside and perform up to the manager’s expectations.
The arrival of Nemanja Matic might dwindle his chances of starting games on a regular basis.
In the first two games of the season, we have seen Mourinho opt for the midfield trio of Mata, Matic and Pogba, while United’s 2016/17 Player of the Year Ander Herrera had to settle for a place on the substitute bench. Marouane had a cameo in both of those games, but we can expect to see much more of the Belgian as the season progresses. With United having European football via the Champions League, Mourinho will rotate his squad on a regular basis.
Fellaini has been deployed in a 2-man defensive midfield setup with Matic and can expect to play that role on a regular this season. He provides able defensive cover to the defence and can also prove to be menacing in set pieces.
He could also provide the option of a second striker when United chase games; with a more direct approach being adopted by the team. His ability to bring long balls under control could be largely exploited and can reap rewards.
Manchester United will look to Jose Mourinho to bring in his second season syndrome. The expectations have only been heightened by their impressive showing in the first two games of the season.
As for Marouane, love him or hate him; he holds an important place in this squad and under Jose Mourinho.
