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LONDON (Reuters) – Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini proved once again why he had become Jose Mourinho's "must-have" player with his late goal against the Swiss Young Boys' team, which was held on Sunday. Is assured a place in the Champions League on Tuesday at 16.
Few United players have respected their enthusiasm at the time of Mourinho at Old Trafford and the former Everton midfielder, aged 31, is perhaps the only one to have overtaken the expectations.
While Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez struggle to justify the huge investment they have invested, the expenses incurred on the Belgian international turn out to be a good investment.
The arrival of Fellaini in 2013 in the form of a 27.5 million pound sterling signature by his former boss Everton, David Moyes, was thrilled by United fans, already disappointed by choosing Alex Ferguson's successor.
Moyes said later that he did not want to make Fellaini his first purchase because he feared how skeptical fans might see him.
After the dismissal of the Scot, his replacement manager, the Dutchman Luis van Gaal, was stuck with the big Belgian and Mourinho loved to turn to him as a substitute for the impact.
"I always try to give everything to the team, whether I start or not. Everyone knows I'm a team player, "said Fellaini, who said he felt Mourinho's conviction.
"I feel comfortable, I'm happy with him, he gives me a lot of confidence, it's important for a player, I'm trying to pay him back on the pitch," he said. he declared.
Mourinho has repeatedly turned to Fellaini as an additional attacker, using his height to allow for a more direct style in the final stages of the hunt.
He also used the Belgian as protector in front of his often fragile defense, where his physical presence and his aerial prowess helped to annihilate his opponents.
The manager's reaction to the late goal that ensured a 1-0 win on Tuesday, a well-shot shot on the turn, was a source of frustration as the Portuguese broke bottles of water on the ground but after the match, he had a word for Fellaini. .
"Felli works hard – that's what you can demand and that's what a player has to do without anyone demanding, and he does," said Mourinho, whose team is fighting in seventh place in the Premier League.
Whatever happens at the end of the campaign, with the transfer rumors already swirling around United's most tradable assets, it would be surprising that Fellaini is not part of the club's plans.
(Simon Evans report, edited by Ken Ferris)
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