Mourinho says Fellaini is vital to United Jose Mourinho says Marouane Fellaini is a key player for Manchester United, following the midfielder's standout display in Sunday's win over Bournemouth. Fellaini played an important role in the 3-1 victory, as goals from Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the Vitality Stadium ensured the Reds made the perfect start to the new campaign. Speaking to MUTV after the game, the United boss singled out Fellaini for praise, and believes fans will "love" the Belgian if he continues his fine form. "With Fellaini I always have the feeling that he was not loved by the general Red people," Mourinho said. "But, if he plays like he’s playing now, they have to love him because he’s being so important for us." As for the man himself, Fellaini was delighted to start the season with a win, and says he's determined to prove that "United are back." "It was a tough game for both sides," he told MUTV. "Bournemouth played well in the first half. In the second half we kept the ball better and created more chances and more possibilities for ourselves. We took those chances and got the win which was good for us. I hope we will see more goals this season but we have to keep working and keep improving every game and every session. The manager is helping bring this feeling of aggression and character that we need to win games which is very important. We have to improve every game if we want to do something well this season and we want to prove to everyone that Man United are back. The new guys are good and bring quality," Fellaini added. "Zlatan had one chance and got one goal which is good for us. Bailly was strong defensively and in the Premier League we need that and we hope he can continue like that. Like everybody, I want to start so I’m happy to start today and show my quality and show the manager what I can do."
Mourinho being pretty deliberate in his choice of words. Fellaini never looked to leave anyway as he fits the profile Jose does like in players, especially in terms of his height and power. Mourinho surely knows what he is and isn't capable of and as such will not use him as a DCM. He'll be Pogba's backup and will spell him when the Frenchman needs a breather.
Fellaini could be very useful against some sides as the 6/8 next to a 6 and 'behind' an 8/10. He wasn't the chief cook and bottle washer yesterday, but he was pretty damned important to the win. He won a bunch of headers, made important challenges and didn't waste a ball all game practically.
I read somewhere he had a 99 percent pass completion. If he keeps that going with his physicality, he will be key, and the reason why Schneiderlin is riding the pine.
Pretty sure that one of Mourinho's main instructions to Fellaini was to keep it simple and don't try to be too "fancy". The map above pretty much says as much.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...-news/man-utd-news-fellaini-mourinho-11750924 Fellaini had good games under Moyes and Van Gaal. But there were a lot of occasions when he was asked to do things he is not capable of. Jose Mourinho didn’t make the same mistake at Bournemouth. Mourinho’s instructions look simple. Be a nuisance in midfield, help us defend set pieces and, when you get the ball, give it to someone better.
I'm sure Moyes asked him to do things he wasn't capable of. After a couple of seasons of Van Gaal's Man United, I find it hard to believe he was telling anyone anything other than "keep it simple... under no circumstances pass it to anybody more than 8 yards away...". Oh sure - when @Cevno says it, he's a moron but when Jose Mourinho says it...
Fellaini can be effective in the role that Mourinho has set out for him against lesser teams. However, in the biggest matches against the highest quality opponents he shouldn't be in the starting lineup. In those games you need all of your players capable of playing on the ball.
The games against better teams and more capable players are why we have Pogba now. But against mid to lower teams, with midfields that are not that high quality, Fellaini should be able to handle them under the guidelines we saw yesterday. He has a place in the squad and he will probably prove useful this season.
An important distinction is to note that Fellaini and to a lesser extent Herrera struggled to get into the game while the cherries pressed. That's Fellaini's weakness in a deeper role. Fellaini is actually a good midfielder and somewhat well rounded. He can make long passes, he can make short passes, good in the air, strong in the tackle etc etc. But he cannot take the game by the scruff of the neck or bend the team or teams to his will. He is a complementary midfielder. He is like Mata... as the team goes, so he goes. You can get away with luke-warm midfielders if you have dominant attackers who demand attention and give those midfielders space and time, but you can't have passengers everywhere. In fact, the best strategy is to employ at least one player capable of dominating in each area... a CB who can playmake, a midfielder who can create with passing and running with the ball, a winger who can get on the end of crosses and beat a man or three. Whether we had those personnel or. Ot the last few seasons, those instincts were neutered, hence the boring possession football.
Far and away his best role is that of a battering ram inside the two boxes. There's not much in the middle third that he can contribute to a club of United's aspirations.
I don't mind selling him, but we need to have a player in the ranks or lined up that has similar traits or traits that we value more. As a squad player, he is handy to have around.
Completely agree. Against bottom half clubs Fellaini can do a job. And on those days when nothing's going right and we're reduced to long ball, Fellaini is a decent target for the knock down ball. But we should never see him start against Arsenal or City. Or even Liverpool.
Fellaini like Mata, Blind, Valencia, Lingard is perfectly suited to and warrants a role in the squad, but should not be a starter in most games - squadie rotation, injury cover and plan b sub work only. Once Pogba match-fit I think Fellaini starts will be much reduced.
What traits? Our best midfield in the last 2 decades consisted on Scholes and Carrick. There is no role for players like him in anywhere close to a world class midfield.
There's a role for Fellaini. We've league cup opponents where he can do a job. Europa League as well.
Read what I posted. As a squad player, it is helpful if you have spikes that first teamers don't. It means you can change the game and offer something new. I also specified either his spikes or ones that we value more.
I hate to break it to you, but Valencia is our starting right back for the season. Fellaini will play a big role in the squad along with Herrera.
Fellaini gets starts because our overall height and physicality profile of the team has been too low in a league with a lot of set-piece goals/teams. The aerial bombardment by Leicester at the end of the Community Sheild was a good example of that. Jose has bought a very tall striker in Zlatan who can help defend these (as Van Persie did under Fergie). In Pogba he has bought a CM who can help also (given Carrick ageing and Herrera not good at this). If we get Fonte or another quality starter central defender so we aren't forced to use Blind at CB regularly then we no longer need Fellaini in the squad or at least as much in the first team to balance us out in terms of height/physicality. Think Mou has also indicated he thinks we are short of options at 8 - so should we get another (and Mou has mentioned he wants physicality along with ball carrying) maybe next summer then Fellaini likely to be moved on then.