When Marouane Fellaini’s two-year contract extension was announced over the summer, it was met with groans from United fans. Five games into the new Premier League season and he is proving why Jose Mourinho may have been right to put his trust in him.
Having signed from Everton in the summer of 2013, many people, myself included, believe that Fellaini is indelibly linked to the failures of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. He was a link to the failed tenure of David Moyes and the tedious football of Louis van Gaal.
To many times, Fellaini stuck out like a sore thumb when on the pitch, charging about with his elbows swinging, more a battering ram than footballer. Many people, and yes again myself included, thought re-signing Fellaini would be a colossal error on the part of Jose Mourinho.
Scholes ❌
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 15, 2018
Beckham ❌
Carrick ❌
"You have to understand why Jose has got him in his team."
Marouane Fellaini may not be a "silky" passing midfielder, but he's back in favour at Man Utd and @rioferdy5 outlines why 💪 pic.twitter.com/d7di2pJilI
After bullying his way into the Belgium lineup during the World Cup, including a game-changing performance in the knockout game against Japan, Fellaini returned to United. He was left out of the starting lineup for the first three Premier League games of the season, as United squeaked past Leicester, before crashing to consecutive defeats against Brighton and Spurs.
New signing Fred was finding life difficult in the Premier League. A deep-lying playmaker, he was finding himself under pressure, getting bullied by bigger opponents. Andreas Pereira, who started the first two games of the season, was still inexperienced at this level. Paul Pogba struggled to consistently thrive with the lack of protection behind him.