Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen believes Marouane Fellaini’s recent Premier League performances have helped to restore his confidence.
When David Moyes was handed his P45 at Manchester United, you got the feeling it would only be a matter of time before Marouane Fellaini had the same tough talk.
Having been taken to Old Trafford by the manager being ushered through the exits, and having struggled to justify a £27.5 million price tag, the Belgian midfielder must have felt like he was on borrowed time.
The summer came and went, though, with the World Cup finals offering a welcome distraction and the transfer window closing without an offer being tabled.
Many United supporters will have been cursing an inability to offload an expensive flop, with Fellaini having offered little to suggest that he was capable of replicating his form in Everton blue in the red of United.
Slowly but surely, though, the man with the distinctive afro has started to win over a sceptical fan base.
Admittedly there is still work to be done, but it takes time to dust down and rebuild reputations once they have been dragged through the Premier League mud.
Fellaini moved another step closer to earning a full reprieve on Tuesday when he netted in a 2-1 victory over Stoke City, and an interested onlooker at the Theatre of Dreams believes the 27-year-old is finally starting to show his true colours as he feels more comfortable in his surroundings and in the role he is being asked to play.
Former United coach Rene Meulensteen told Sky Sports News: “You saw it yesterday and I think that is Fellaini at his best, coming late into the box. He is a powerful, tall man and with those deliveries – I don’t think Mark Hughes will be too happy about the defending in this case – but don’t take anything away from Fellaini.
“The timing of the run was good, the header was perfect and it’s good for him. He had a very difficult season (last year), he’s building his confidence up, he’s playing in a better position. He’s doing okay.”
| Match | Goals | Total Att Assist | Interception | Accurate Pass | Fwd Pass | Won Tackle | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marouane Fellaini | Man Utd vs Stoke | 1 | 1 | 1 | 61 | 14 | 5 | 90 |
| Marouane Fellaini | West Brom vs Man Utd | 1 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 9 | 2 | 45 |
| Marouane Fellaini | Arsenal vs Man Utd | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 10 | 4 | 90 |
| Marouane Fellaini | Man Utd vs Hull City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 13 | 1 | 90 |
| Marouane Fellaini | Man Utd vs C. Palace | 0 | 0 | 1 | 70 | 19 | 0 | 90 |
| Marouane Fellaini | Man City vs Man Utd | 0 | 0 | 2 | 47 | 9 | 5 | 90 |
| Marouane Fellaini | Man Utd vs Everton | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| Marouane Fellaini | Man Utd vs Chelsea | 0 | 0 | 1 | 34 | 9 | 3 | 90 |
| Marouane Fellaini | Man Utd vs Swansea | 0 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 23 |
Fellaini is doing better than okay, he is a man reborn.
He was a shadow of his former self in 2013/14, but the dark clouds have been lifted and an energetic figure is once again playing with a smile on his face.
Whether there is a role for him when Louis van Gaal has a fully fit squad from which to select is open to debate, but for now his combative approach and keen eye for goal is being embraced by United’s Dutch boss and those in the stands who are prepared to wipe the slate clean and start afresh.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
